Sea though our Preacher were the sickest man Such was his care and zeale and truely he was an honest quiet man and a sufficient Scholler named Maister Samuell Sotheby Thus we passed from Yam to Yam vppon excellent Post-horses till we came thorogh many well scituated and pleasant townes vnto the Cittie of Yerri-slaue which we came vnto the 19. of Sept. where we were receiued with a multitude of people After we had rowed in a very great Barge ouer the famous Riuer of Volga wherevnto adioyning this citty on a hill is scittuated a rich and pleasant Citty where the Ambassador was lodged in the house of Gregory Euannovvich Micolin late Ambassador to her Maiesty of England It might be fitting for me to speake somewhat of this famous Riuer as is I thinke for length and bredth any one excepted in the world but so many excellent writers as in the worthy labors of Master Richard Hacklyute haue made particular mention therof as it induseth me to leaue the description of this Riuer and towne to those that haue largely and painfuly wrote of such things especially to M. Doct. Fletchers true relation sometime Ambas to this Emperor The 21. of September we went from Yeri-slaue being well accompanied from the Citty passing through Shepetscoy where wee lay and dwels an English gentleman named Georg Garland sometime seruant to that Noble but vnfortunate E. of Essex of whom many through the world do make in diuers kinds but as that learned and heroycall Poet Sir Phil. Sidney speaks of Prince Plangus neuer any can make but honorable mention The next day we came to Rostoue an ancient but a great ruinous town wherof is one of their Metropollitanes named Here in a faire house the Ambassa lay 2. daies in which time the Emperors Mate wrote to our Prestaue that the Ambas and the Kings gentlemen should haue ambling horses from the Monasteries and that we should take as easie Iourneyes as we pleased with commaund to giue content to euery ones desire And certainly had not the Emperor as then bin taking a Prograce to the Monastery of Troiets which foure times a yeare for Religious causes he doth we had receiued more especiall fauors Yet he that hath but trauailed to know what Monasteries are and how prouided of al things may easily esteeme it a great ease and especiall honour to haue there horses The 25. day we came to Perri-slaue a long decayed towne where in a rich merchants house new builded the Ambas lodged Here in regarde of the Emperors and Princes being at Troytes which was but of our easie trauell two daies iourny we lodged 3. daies then departed throgh Doobna to Troites that fair and rich Monastery so to Bratte-sheene and Rostouekin 5. vers from the great city of Musco where in a Churchmans house the Ambass that nâ—ght lodged and the rest in verie good houses for so small a Dereuena This night the Agent hauing bin with the chancellor came to visit his Lordshipp and let him vnderstand that the next morning about nine of clocke he should be honourably brought into the Musco whereupon euerie man prepared accordingly The next morow being the 4. of October the Prestaue came and declared to his Lordsh. it was the Emperors pleasure he should come into the Mosco that forenoone presently after came M. I. Mericke Agent with some twenty horses to attend his Lord ship and informed him his vnderstanding in his comming into the Mosco and that he shoulde presently be sent for which forth-vvith was performed Then we did ride till we came within a little mile of the many 1000. of Noblemen and Gentl. on both sides the way attended on horseback to receiue his Lordsh. Where the Ambassador alighted from his Coatch and mounted on his footcloth horse and so rode on with his trumpets sounding A quarter of a mile farther met him a proper and gallant gentleman a foote of the Emperors stable who with cap in hand declared to the Ambassador that the Emperor the young Prince and the maister of the horse had so far fauored him as to send him a Iennet very gorgeously trapped with gold Pearle and pretious stone and particularly a great chaine of plated gold about his necke to ride vpon Whervpon the Ambassador alighted imbraced the gentleman returned humble thanks to them all and presently mounted Then he declared that they likwise had sent horsses for the kings Gentlem. which likewise were very richly adorned then for all his followers which ceremony or state performed all being horssed he departed wee riding orderlye forward till we were met by three great Noblmen seuered from the rest of the multitude and the Emperors Tolmache or interpreter with them Of which state the Ambassador it may seeme had for-knowledge it being in this Countrey a custome vsed but with more or lesse Noblemen as is the Emperors fauour and grace Likewise vnderstanding of the strange Ceremony of first allighting from their horses as who eyther hath read sir Ierome Bowes his formality and obseruance hereof or sir Richard Leaes painefull standing vpon the priority herein may thinke the Emperors command is very strait therunto and as they thinke much honour is loste to dismount first but they being within speach thus began that Oration they could neuer well conclude Which was That from their Lorde and Maister the mighty Emperour of Rushia c. they had a message to deliuer his lordship The Ambassador then thinking they would be tedious and troublesome with their vsuall Ceremonies preuented their farther speeche with this to them a Spell That it vvas vnfitting for subiects to hold discourse in that kinde of complement of tvvo such mighty and renowmed Potentates on horsbacke They hereby not only put by their ceremonious saddle-sitting but out of their paper instructions for the state thereof ashamed as was proude Artexius stepping aside in the daungerous fight with Zealmene they allighted sodainly as men fearing they were halfe vnhorsed and the Ambassador presently after them comming very courteously all three saluting the Ambass and the kings gentlemen taking them by the hands Thus like a scholler too olde to learne by rote the Duke named K. Volladamur Evanywich Mavvsolskoy with his Lesson before him declared his message which was that he with the other twoe Noblemen were sente from the Great Lord Emperor and great Duke Borys Phedorvvich selfe-upholder great L. Emperor and great Duke of all Rushia Volademer Moskoe and Novogorode king of Casan and Astracan Lord of Vobskoe great Duke of Smolenskoe Tuer Huder Vghory Perme Viatsky Bolgory c. Lord and great duke of Novogorod in the Lovv-countries of Chernigo Rezan Polotskey Rostoue Geraslaue Bealozera Leifland Oudorskey Obdorskey Condingskey King of all Syberia and the North coasts Commander of the contreys of Iversky Grysinsky and Emperor of Kabardivsky of Chirkasky and of the vvhol countrie of Garskey and of many other countries and Kingdomes lord and Emp. to know of his Ma. health of England the
consisting of 300. severall dishes of Fish for it was now Lent of such strangenes greatnes and goodnesse for their number as it were not to be beleeued by any report but by a mans owne eye-sight with infinite store of Meandes and beere in Massy plate The Duke sat at the tables end by the Ambas hauing euery dish deliuered him by the name which was enterpreted to the Ambas vvhere hauing long sat and well feasted vve rose and obseruing theyr Countreys fashion after the roome was deasentlie beseene the Ambas dranke the Emperors health in a small gilte cup couered then our Kings and the two Princes all vvhich the Duke pledged willinglye although his cups held foure times the Ambassa besides the drink vvas as different the one being beer or Meand the others alligant Sacke and Muskadell After them the Prestaues the Kinges Gent. and others of the Emp. servantes being there did the like Thus som four or fiue hours was soone stolne away night before diner hauing sent his borrowd torches to light vs when the Duke having receiued a woorthy present of the Ambas was lightly whether you consider the torches his drinking or the Ambassa bounty sent away and so this feastiuall daies-night was concluded The 17. of march the Ambas being before often inuited by this Agent now after so honorable a dispatch was willing to see the English house hauing the Emp. sleds and horses one of the Prestaues the Tolmatch and some Simboyarskes or Gentl. we rode thither where his Lordship had a bountifull feast a harty welcome and as good company After diner the Ambas his Prestaus the Tolmatch went forth of the dining roome to see Mistris Merick for their fashion wil not admit any women at tablâ— who had prouided an excelâ—ent banquet of English stuffe and was much reioyced to see the Amba whom she knew before at her house in so far a Country There the honest and kind Agent by the faire hands of his vertuous wife after the banquet presented his Lord ship with a faire standing gilt cup and couer worth thirty pound likewise his Prestaue and Enterpreter very bountifully so returning to the comp for that time we left One obseruation I there made of the great desire and often offer of the Prestaue when hee saw Mistris Mericke to be gone saying it befitted him not to behold such creatures But the Enterpreter being a Dutch-man borne to our English fashions and acquainted with the Agent perswaded him to Patience both to his profit pleasure and belly delight Thence after a like bountiful suppâ—r about 10. in the night we departed One honorable kindnesse of the Chaunsellor I must not forget who imagining the Kinges Gentlemen woulde that daye â—ide abroad sent to vs to make offer of his Horse and sleds at our command but we not minding to leaue the Ambassador for our pleasures returned humble thankes to his Lordsh for his honorable kindnesse not resoluing as that day to take more then sufficient The 18. of march the Empe. sent by Vassilly Gregorewich Telepnoue the role wherin was the demands of the Ambas and the particulers of the whole negotiation as there at large appeares The 19. his Maiesty sent by Mensboy Buldecâ—ue vnder Treasoror a royal present to the Ambas of many perticulars also to each of the Kings Gent. being rewarded he departed The 20. of march being honorably accompanied with thousands of gallants of each side the streets al along as we passed the Ambas departed from the Citty of Musco Surely a great and according to their woodden building a faire Citty with the whole numbers of horsemen still becking vs till we came a short Myle on this side the Citty where we made a stande and after some complement betweene the Ambassa and his kind and honorable Prestaue the Duke Vollag demor with almost weeping on his part the Ambassa went from the Emp. fled to his coatch set vppon a sled and we alighted from the Emp. horses and betoâ—ke our selues to our easie and pleasant passage in sleds such a passage as this part of the world would wonder at in which a man though he go a Hackney pace maye as easilye reade as sleepe Hauing according to the Amb. request one of our sonnet Prestaues named Constantine Petrowich Arteshove then whom the Emperor could not affoord a more humble or dilligent Gent. with him a Dyack named Patricke Nasonove and three of our former Sunboy arskeis vvith their seruants Thus accompanied with Maister Iohn Mericke M. William Russell somtimes Agent for the Dutch and many other merchants vve easily rode that nighte to Bratteshin 30. myles from the Musco The next morow taking leaue of them all vve continued our iourny 50. and 60. vers a day easily Our Prestaue had in command to let our Ambas see any Monasterye or place hee desired in his trauayle also to lodge in vvhat houses it pleased him in any Cittye or Tovvne and where the English Merchants had houses that the Ambas might haue them which indeed hee desired aswell in respect they vvere the fayrest and most at his command as also to vnderstand their courses dealings and behauiour of the seruants that kept them and other speciall thinges which but by personally there being he should neuer truly haue vnderstood And for the generall good of the company I know he did that Seruice that while it stands and he liues they neede not fall into any vnaduised courses if by him they will but be councelled being furnished euery way with a ful vnderstanding and iudgment to that honorable intent Especially meeting here vvith so honest discreet an Agent so well beloued of the Emp. Prince and Nobility so approued of by the merchants in as good esteeme of al other so thoroughly experienced in affaires as well concerning their trade as their customes and demeanure hauing a mind and ability I am perswaded for the good and benefit of the whole company as neuer had nor will succeede a fitter man The 23. of march we came to Yery-slaue being satterday and there rested our Saboth where the company hath a very faire and tight house which we lay in and surely an honest discreet seruant then kept it From hence we tooke our Iourney the 25. because we feated the breaking vp of the way we made great but very pleasant iourneys so as the 29. we came to Vollagde wher the Ambas lay at the English house within the walles whereof it hath a great many of roomes as chambers worke-houses and the lyke but the house it selfe is very old and stands with an humble body as though it vvoulde shortly kisse the earth at our being here the company had many ser. and the Amb. tooke a course they should thriue by his there lodging allowing them for their beere for himselfe and the Kings Gent. their whole diet being desirous to â—o the company good and their seruants no hurt After Easter weeke was passed the Prestaue came to desire
same esteeming it lesse blame so to win a kingdome then any other meanes to lose it doubtlesse vpholding a true Maiestie and gouernment in euery part but in his owne mind that it is a question whether he were more kind to strangers or seuere and iust to his Subiects or most hatefull and terrible to his enemies In his entertainments making royaltie and state giue place to fashion and custome A father and a Prince whose wordes councels obseruacions pollicies resolutions and experiments were but the life of his deere son neuer aduising entertaining no not praying without him In all Ambassies negotiations remembring his sons name with his own louing him being louely for that himselfe would be loued vnwilling to spare his presence desirous to haue him at all occasions before his eies I shal not doe amisse to giue a taste of the fruit sprung from so stately a tree Being by a learned and wel trauailed gent. diuers times particâ—larly aduised to let the Prince take some moâ—e then no recreation by which meanes hee might aswell prolong his life as instruct his iudgment and delight his mind Oh would the Empe. answer one son is no son nay I am perswaded three sons to me is but halfe a son But had I sixe sons then I might safely say I had one howe then shoulde I part with that at any time I know not to be mine for any tim This may giue satisfaction to anye vnderstanding both of his feares and gelousies his great loue and much care Another saying of the Emperour was this and then let any iudg what I haue writ why It was a vsuall speech with the Emp. vpon good reason to say he was the Lord and father of his sonne yet withall That he was not only his seruant but his very slaue And thus he proued it That hee might command him and that he begat him For the second that all his actions were onely for his seruice though not commaunded by him yet in his owne nature and affection vrged therunto For his chiefe good he was his addopted Prince and that he knew it was his duty he remembred euer more he was his father as his Soueraigne able and as his father obliged For the third that he was his Slaue he woulde alleage for him in many kindes he knewe that hee had done that could not but from a Tyrant bee required of his vassals and the greater was his subiection heerein that he was forced to commit that no Potentate could exact I say neither by law nor Consciencâ— from his Slaues neither any could therevnto be commaunded This being spoken from him who best knew his owne secretes may be euerie way held enough for any to vnderstand sufficiently by yet that hee is to be registred among none of the worst Princes that could with such ease attain so great an Empire hauing no iust Tytle therunto but on the contrary to be recorded among the famous I leaue to saye wherfore vpon what grouÌ„d of reason was his greatnesse in the late Emp. daies especially in the sonnes gouernment being Protector The pollicie of that time when he aymed at the kingdome his election by generall consent after the death of Pheodor Euaniwich and the resignation of the Empresse his sist. Irenia Pheodurna His many refusals to be Emperor with the generall and perticular desire that he must take it the necessity that one must speedily be chosen his conditions in taking it with entytling his son after him the form of their Oaths to them both so soon as he was established his wife-seeming and applausible Raigne till the late demaunde made by Demetre when he had gouerned 8. yeares thervpon his sudden death and other occurrents whoe wisely scans must acknovvledge him but only in his finall and fatall iudgment a prudent pollitik Prince as any times make mention of that if his latter end ansvvered not the expectation of so happy a begining with a like prosperous continuance It is in the like case to be demanded why Acbitophel murdred himselfe because in but one thâ—â—â— his councell was not followed the true eccho returnes because his councell was not followed and why Iudas would hang himselfe when he had betraied his master the reason vvas He had betrayed his Mayster Of this Emperour it is reported by Sir Ierom Horsey in his writinges in M. Hacklayts workes that the aforesayd Emperour when he was a Subiect had 12000. li. yeerely besides his places of Honour as beeing Protector Gouernour of the Kingdomes of Cozan and Astracan c. Vnto which Doctor Fletchers report agrees whereof 3500. Marks was giuen him by Pheodor Euanch at one time in one Sheire And howsoeuer towards his ende he grew very myserable and couetous which was not the least cause of his ouerthrow insomuch as it was obserud himselfe would often take notice of the passage to his Seller and Buttery Not much vnlike in that kind one writes of the French King Il feit d'argent auec ses dens That he made Mony with his teeth Yet when he aspired to the Empire note his greatnesse with his bountie first to Sir Ierom Bowes when he was there Ambassadour then to Sir Ierom Horsey when he was there Messenger recorded by themselues yea euen to her late Maiestie of blessed memorie the particulers are set downe in the fore-mentioned Booke of Voyages notwithstanding what the lord of Pibrac obserues in his Quadrones is fulfilled in this Emperour viz. Petite Source ont les grosses Riuieres c. Euen as from smallest Springs the greatest Riuers rise So those that rore aloud and proud at first Runne seldome farre for soone their glorie dies In some neere Bogg by their selfe-furie burst Two pollecies of the sayd Emperour I shall willingly acquaint you with for diuers reasons One was when hee caused fire to be kindled in foure partes of Moskoe whereat himselfe was noted to be very diligent with all his Nobles and Courtiers and after it was quenched he sent his Bountie to them all that builded anew their Houses and repayde all their losses And this was but to stopp the Rumour then was so common of his strange gayning the Empire by which Stratagem of his when his people were readie to Mutanie they were created anew good Subiectes yet did admire his not onely Care but goodnes towards them all A second was at that time the Land was visited with a mighty Famine and as great a Plague some foure yeares since whereof a third of the whole Nation is rateâ— to haue dyed and the murmuring multituâ—e sayd the cause was their elâ—cting of a Murderâ—r to the Empire wherefore God did thus visite them Wherâ—vpon he caused Gâ—lleries to be buiâ—ded round about the vtmost wall of the great cittie of Moskoe and there appoynted dâ—yly to be giuen to the poore twentie thousande pounds sterling which was accordingly performed for one Month Wherevpon the Common peoples mouthes and bellies were well stopped Yet notwithstanding he dyed
no particuler could haue enacted laying violent handes on all they met but not killing the great mercie of God! any man of account Thus the whole Cittie was in an vproare all the Counsâ—llâ—rs Houses Sellers and Studies ransacked begiâ—ning with the Godonoues spoyling râ—nting and sâ—ealing all they met with but carrying little away but drinke that they could not carrie away for beginning to stagger in the Sellers they left their Wittes in the Butteries and layde downe thâ—ir eyes in the Kitchens so as the â—ext day by reason of thâ— many were madd and dead druncke this day well-nigh â—oo persons ran into forgetfulnesse beeing past life by their former lesse of vnderstanding The Commons no doubt would haue made this day little infeâ—iour to the Massâ—cre of Paris so violent diuelish were their sudden resolutions but that the Nobles bâ—st beloued and obeyed intreatâ—d where none could commaund others perswading all wishing an ende to this most myserable and neuer exampled mischiefe But the multituâ—e did what they would and could especially on the greatest which certainely were the worst So as the Empresse flying to a safer Lodging had her Colâ—er of Pearle pluckt from her necke yet a happie creature that she so escaped which she not easily did but the young P. inâ—eed haâ— no greater punishment or disgrace too much for a P. to beare profered him than to be pittied by such Slaues that had not the sence of Eâ—uie of the Nobles many lost Peards and Havre as if the French Disease had possest them surely t was no inferiour Euill that did worke this Few mens houses as the Stranger Doctors or Marchants with their owne escaped ransacking yea such was their miserable pouerty they stript many to their very skinne that a man might haue seene an Armie of Adams covering and in their transgressing Gardens their Nakednesse with Leaues as ashamed not onely for their poore beeing but their inhumane suffering Parents intreating Children weâ—ping Wiues raging the Richer punished whilst the pittifull poore ouerruled And though the Nobles kept many places and made strong the chiefest they could not resist the multitude there thought such a drunken kind their onely heauen lyuing many yeares without the vse and effect thereof But weeried woried with their owne long deuotion in God Bacchus Temples many slept the more sufferd whilst the most least repented their bringing this straâ—ge Iudgement to a happie vnhappie conclusion Then the Prince Emperour and Princâ—sse were prestaued a second Commaund beeing come from the Campe with the Godonoues and many others that were suspected most The Nobles ioyning in one Counsell for the present ordering of these suddaine accidents and for answere to the P. Dem. Euanich who suddenly was by generall consent concluded by the perticular knowledge of Bodan Belskey a great Counseller that was priâ—ie to his departure and some others to be their right and lawfull Emperour only a few excepted that could be true subiectes to none because vnfaythfull to themselues such were imprisoned forthwith Thus began the greatnes of Demetre and his right became apparant but as it happens for the more part in such vnvsuall and rare accidents as the deposing of Princes and States-men Tragicall eueâ—tes fail one in the necke of another so nâ—cessarily here for now whilst the good were in consulting for the well ordering of this yet perplexed state the euill were plotting more mischeefe by new stratagems and pollicies for the verie soule of Enuie was crased in this body that the twins of Tirannie and Crueltie stroue for prioritie of byrth And not more ingenious industrious were some in deuising for the raysing of the old Emperour and his posteritie in times past than to be accounted constant now the same villanous States-men were laborious and wickedly wilfull to ouerthrow them hauing no reason but a selfe-norishing pittie to be accompanied to the place of of Repentance and Punishment So as the young Prince was by many but particulerly by his mother Iezabell counselled to leaue the Kingdome vtterly before it forsooke him to follow his Fathers good example in murdering himselfe and herein his Mother that Mapp of Miseries that Cradle of Crueltie and his onâ—ly deare Sister would associate him Letters were deuised and Messengers framed to effect this desperate Treacherie on his innocent life so as in very few dayes for Mischiefe hath the winges of Thought and Resolution they three did consent an vnhappie coniunction to destroy themselues and rather to laye violent handes vpon their hate-full liues then make an Enemie seeme cruell in executing Iustice on them which yet certainely this Emperour neuer dreamt of but determined the Prince should be within himselfe not lesse then Absolute and in a very great Dukedome Yet behold nor Hope nor Pittie nor Greatnes once comforted them but as if selfe-Crueltie had been equitiâ— of Conscience the Mother omitting the tender affection of her Children the Sonne neglecting the naturall loue to his Mother the Sister condemning her selfe in eyther Man forgetting besides the 4. cardenall vertues his principall vertue Patience Women despising Modestie and Bashfulnesse would giue the wanton world a president to runne Death out of countenance without selfe-blushing They would Oh vnspeakable myserie that they did poyson themselues The Princely mother began the health of Death to her noble Sonne who pledgd her with a hartie draught therein so much strength did he add to his vild wicked obedience that he prooued a Banquerour presently Yes hand in hand as hart in hart imbracing each other they fell and dyed as one the Mother counselling and acting whilst the child bethought and suffered Yet see Prouidence and Commisseration Constancie and Obediencâ— the Princesse dranke but like a Virgin temperatly so as the want of modesty which was the death of the Mothâ—r now proued the life of the daughter Presently after this Tragedie came into the Chamber many great men where they were saluted with a dolâ—fall welcome the Emperour that might haue been and his Mother that was imbracing each other euen in the kinde armes of death â—ast all hope but the young Princesse only groueling and assured of breath therein to bee a motherlesse and brotherlesse Virgin from whom was learnd â—he maner of their behauiour which is sayd to be very resolute in the Empresse pittifull in the Emperour lamentable in both Certainely a wicked Tree was it to beare such faire but vntimely Fruite Vpon the ground was a seald Letter from the dead Emperour to the living some report it was sent before his poysoning not answered before he poysoned it being forthwith but it matters little the time or circumstance onely the trueth is necessarie and to this purport it was written by his owne industrious handes Though the vaine world may innocently condemne vs of pusillaâ—ymitie that beeing the true Sonne and Heire to so great aud mightie an Emperour as our late Father of happie sweete remembrance Boris Pheodorich of all Rushia Emperour and selfe-vpholder was
Prince a mightie Emperour his Commaund reaching and swaying almost as much as a third part part of Europe comes to colleaguing himselfe to many potent Princes especially the mightie Polacke heretofore the most mortall Enemie to the Russie and euen from his Campe now his royall Court hee wrote his Princely Letters to all Citties Townes and Villages appoynting Noblemen to take their Oathes to his Maiestie which in all places was willingly performed In the number of all which Letters taking knowledge of an English Ambassadors residence in the Country tho 2000. myles from his Campe and calling to minde the peace and amity held betweene the Princes of England and his predecessors he wrote vnto the English Agent who was departed from the Mosco towards the Sea side but by good fortune vpon some speciall occasion returned backe againe and receiued this gratious Letter presenting himselfe at that time before the Counsell Which being translated out of the originall is here set downe Demetrie Euaniwich Emp. and great Duke of all Rushia selfe-vpholder c. to Iohn Merick Agent for the English Marchants c. VVHereas by the mighty hand infinite mercie and almighty prouidence of God we are happily and with the full consent of all our louing Subiâ—ctes not without admiration to the world receiued and betrothed to our Right and dignitie euen the Throne and Communion table of our Regall Father Euan Valsiliwich and our noble Brother Pheodor Euanriuch both of happie and famous memorie selfe-vpholders Wee remembring the Amitie and friendship first concluded in the raigne of our deare Father Euan Vasiliwich famous with all Christian Princes especlally with the noble Princes of England are resolved of our Princely dispositioÌ„ to be in greater league and amitie now with this renowned King Iames then any our predecessors haue been with all Princes And to that purpose resolve to fauour his Seruantes and Marchantes more then any our predecessors and forthwith after our personall Coronation are determined to send our Ambassadours to his excellent Maistie to that purpose Further that thou Iohn the Sonne of W. after the receipt of these our Princely Letters and the dispatch of thy Marchant-affaires at our Castle of the Ark-Angell then to returne to our greart and famous Cittie of Mosco there to behold our cleare and Princely Eyes And to this purpose we haue giuen order for Post-horse for thee as also for thy appearaunce before our Chancellor Offonasse Euanouch Naseueo Written at our Royall Campe at Tode 8. Iune 7103. The Agent vpon receipt of these Letters with M. Russell sometimes Agent for the Dutch and his now Brother in law prepared to meete the Emperour before he should come to the Mosco before whom being brought by the Chancelor the Agent in name of his Brethren deliuered vnto him a worthy Present which he graciously accepted and withall vttering thus much in effect That whereas it had pleased God so miraculously to preserue him and so gloriously to establish him in the Throne of his Auncestors It would please him to looke vppon the English Merchauntes with the same eyes as they haue done In doing which hee should not onely merite their loues but no Nation would be more thankefull vnto him c. The Emperour returned many gratious words much to the effect of his former Letters but more amply and then inuited them to dinner in his royall Tent beeing set vp of purpose to entertaine a King of the Tartares that was his Subiect So after a bounteous Feast many noble speeches and a Princely welcome they were dismissed for that time but within few dayes after the Agent delyuered in the name of the Ambassadour somuch as he had Commission and instructions for of him which Message was most acceptable and receiued with protestations of desired Peace and Amitie with the King of England for which purpose hee had alreadie appoynted one of his Courtiers speedily to poast vnto the English Ambassadour Vpon our departure from Colmogra to the Ark-Angell the Agent came to the Ambassadour from the Emperour with order for his free Post-horse and Men to conducte him and that no Custome should be demaunded of any Englishman appertayning to the Ambassadour And that the Courtier who was to be sent should follow him very speedily for the English Shippes had been at the Castle fourteene dayes before wherevpon the Ambassadour rowed downe the Riuer and the next day following came to the Ark-Angell where wee were met with many Shipmaisters and Muskets to the number of an hundred The Shippes aswell English as Dutch discharged their Peeces lyberally But this Triumph was altered in a moment into Sadnesse For vppon our landing a fayre new Shippe called the Globe the Maister Maister and his Father beeing owners of her was vtterly lost in our sight by meanes of a Mynion bursting in the Gun-roome where foure Barrels of Powder standing by one of them beeing not well couered the rest tooke fire blew vp all the Sterne slew the Gunner and his Mate hurt the Maister his Mate and some sixe others whilst the Shippe splitting in sunder suncke presently to the exceeding sorrow of all the beholders Hither within few dayes after came from the Emperor a Courtier named Gauarello Samollorich Sallmanoue that had been Ambassadour to the K. of Denmarke a Gentleman of great birth and well in yeares to signifie to the Ambassadour the Emperours desire to enter into Bondes of peace and amitie with the King of England And this was an extraordinarie grace of the Emperour done to the Ambassadour if wee consider the Person that was sent the Message and the Myles hee so poasted ouer for feare the Ambassadour should bee gone Tâ—e Message which he brought was much to the purpâ—sâ— of thaâ— Conference held with the Emperour and the Agâ—nt the cheâ—fest branch of all beiâ—g a reâ—ouation oâ—â—hâ—â— League now betweene â—otâ— the Kiâ—gâ—â—mes of Englanâ— and Rushia which was bâ—tweeâ—â— the late Q Elizabeth his deare and kiâ—d Sister and his Father and with a protestation to be in greater amitie correspondence with thâ— King of England then euer any of his predecessors had bâ—en with other Kinges thereof for better manifestation of which all the sayd K. Iames his Subiâ—cts shall haue surer libertie then euer they had before Adding further that his personall Coronation being performed Ambassadours should be sent to salute and congratulate his louing Brother of England c. The Ambassadour herevpon not onely sent thosâ— Letters which he had receiued from the late Emperour Borris but also by twentie Liueries a Present worth 100. Markes And within one weeke aftâ—r this Courtiers departure we hastned our owne because the season of the yeere so requireâ— The day before our departure by reason of some wrong done to an English Saylor by a Russe a great tumult arose in which the Common people with stones and billets behaued themselues so furiously that the English-house gates were broken open their chambers in perill to be rifled their windowes
illy well they could not haue a more Tyrant also seeing them to be resolute and confident as any wise man considering their beeing must confesse also knowne men of great birth and also of the late Boris his Enemies indeed thereunto ledd by the Spirit of God as they were strengthed with his all-sufficient power if I might so speake they in infinite numbers brought them safe into the spacious Plaine before the Castle gate within which as dayly they did vse so now were all the Counsellers in consultation but happily not in a secret Counsayle also wherein was the Emperiall Court There these Boyeryns made demaunde for many of the Counsellers especially for the Godonoues to come to heare their right K. D. E. speaking vnto them by Letters Who yet after refusall and I cannot condemne all many came the Commons being resolued else to fetch them out all alleadging their guiltines to be so great and to bee so ashamed as they were astonished with the long deluding and mocking the common and their new tryall of all their treasons But one by the mouth of the golden tonged Chaunsellor or Secretarie hee thereunto commaunded by the P. and Nobilitie then in counsell indeed the onely Orator and Populer man among them was required the reason of that strange assemblie tending to little lesse indeed too much more then a Mutinie also the Boyeryns countenauncing them herein alledging they needed not so to assemble themselues vndutifully and disobediently that by petition might haue any request aunswered as hauing so mercifull milde and humble-harted a Prince As when the time mourning for his deare Father was performed which is 6. weekes and his Coronation with his former Princes magnificense and state obsâ—rued they all should confâ—sse him to bee till â—hen thâ—ir Couâ—trie Lâ—wes did not aâ—mit of publicke or priuate suites in â—xtraâ—rdinary persons or particulers c. but in such Language this was deliuered as hee might well supply tâ—e Tongues office But the affection of the heart powred not out this Oration Then by the Boyeryers aloude was read the Emperours Letters to this effect That hee much woondred at that time wherein expedition was to be accounted safest pollicie hauing sâ—nt many Letters Messengers to them concerning their approouing him to be their lawfull Prince as beeing the Sonne of Euan Vasulrach their late Emperour and the onely brother of Pheodor Euanchers selfe-vpholder of happie memorie both with inuincible argumentes and direct reasons to the manifesting thereof they notwithstanding his long patience and gratious remisnessâ— were not onely so proude as not to answere his Princely Letters but so presumptuous as to retaine his Messengers whereby they made themselues apparantly to be no lesse Vipers to the State in obscuring him then Traytors to himselfe the true and right Emperour by defrauding them yet giuing him a strong Argument by their Silence of their guiltinesse also allowing thereby time and opportunitie if he had not been their true-borne Emperour and with the naturall Mother tendered the life of her deare Children to haue conquered destroyed the whole Nation aâ—ding thereunto the loue of the many and dayly falling to his side of the Mightie whilst they like either vnworthy or vnwise Counsellers blinded with Honour and partialities securely slept in their particuler strength ignorant of this Principle That where the Members are disioynted and broke the Head and Heart suffer of necessitie All which notwithstanding hee beeing confident in his owne conscience of his iust Tytle made the Prince of patience and humilitie from his former many great myseries and dangers had in his princely wisedome and clemencie againe wrote these but certainely his last Peace-requiring and Grace-offering Letters yea was content to desire them hee might and doubted not shortly but hee should commaund onely ayming at the good of the Common-wealth and State in generall as he that without much shedding of his Subiectes blood desired the Kingdome Also to this end hee had sent â—en of great birth viz. Rues Pheodor Euanrich Methithsosky and Rues Demetre Euanrich Suskey and giuen them Commission to displace his Enemies and prestaue the Godonoues others till his further pleasure were knowne consuming those monstrous blood-suckers and Traytors with returne of the Commons answere therevnto Likewise to demaunde his Messengers and they to be brought before the Commons whom he had reason to beleeue were ill intreated if not murthered withall that if they did submit themselues now to him as to their lawfull Prince and Soueraigne which he was truely resolued their Consciences were guiltie of that yet they should finde him a gratious and mercifull Lord if otherwise a seuâ—ere and iust Reuenger of them and their many misdeeds towardes him as hee that had his Sword euer vnsheathed to execute his vengeance on them all and was easely perswaded they were not ignorant of the many Victories hee had obtayned formerly against them when they would seeme able and willing to fight with his Souldiers and how afflicted and troubled herewith they all were But that now hee had their chiefe strongest heades and armes in his owne hande the whole world might not betroth him they durst once speake openly against him as assured all excepting a very few and they of the worst in heart were his loyall Subiectes Of all these premises hee wished them from the highest to the lowest seriously and considerately to aduise and reinforme their iudgements for that hee was foorthwith determined and that peremptorily of a course as greatly to their terrifiyng and horrour as verily not agreeable to his nature and Princely disposition and how vehemently and earnestly hee desired of God to regaine his Inheritaunce and to be Inthroned in his Fathers and Mothers Empire without blood hee onely was the witnesse to his Conscience should bee the Iudge of his Innocencie if it did so come to passe withall that hee had humbly beseeched of the Almightie that as he had miraculously and wonderfully preserued him from many dangers sorrowes and myseries to this happie time so that it would please him to graunt him wisedome patience and mercifulnâ—sse to siâ—t in his Fathers and Mothers Throne without shedding of innocent blood if possible to the shedding of one drop c. But before this Princely Letter was halfe read the hearts and hands of the multituâ—e were strangly combinde together not one speaking but all confusedly like letterde and chayned Horses stamping being indeed without any feare but of not doing mischiefe enough all as one running violently into the Castle where meeting two of the pitifully tormented Messengers they paused to heare them as sufficiently as their insufficiencie would permit them delyuer the vilâ—e manner of their torturing whipping rosting which was in deed a Whippe and Spurre to driue them without witte or humanitie as if they had been fyred like Gunpowder with the very spaâ—kes of heate Such barbarous crueltie beastly actions and inhumane spectacles as without the great Diuell had been there generall