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
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
Qu. and Princes The second being a capt of gunners the Emperors guard named Kazarine Davydovvich Beaheetchoue pronouncing the Emp. and princes tytle said he was sent from them to knowe his Lordsh. health and vsage with the kings Gent. The third was one of the Secretaries named Pheodor Boulteene obseruing the former order did deliuer what he had in command from the Emp. prince and Empresse to informe the Ambassador of their much fauor towards him and the kings Gent in prouiding for his honorable intertain and ease a fayre large house to lodge in Also that they three were sent from the Emp. Prince and Empresse to be his Prestaues to supply the Emperors goodnes toward him to prouide his necessaries and deliuer anye sute it pleased the Ambassadour to make to the Emperour To all which the Ambassador very wiselie gaue answere as they made report vnto the Emp. So we all presently mounted again the Prestaues on either hand of the Amb. his horse and footcloth being led by his Page som small distance his cotch behind that and some 6000. Gallants after behind all who at the Ambas riding thorough the guard that was made for him very courteously bowed him selfe Thus was he followed by thousands and with in the three vvalles of the Citty many hundreds of yong Noblemen Gentlemen and rich merchants well mounted begirt the wayes of euery side diuers on foote also euen to the gate of the house where the Ambassador was to be lodged which was some two myles Whether being come hee was brought into his bed-chamber by the Noblemen his Prestaues where with many thanks for their honorable paines they vvere dismist betaking themselues to their further affayres The next morn cam three other Prestaues with the former to knovve of his Lordships health and hovv he hadde rested the night past vvithall that if his Lordshippe wanted any thing they all or any one of them were as commaunded so ready to obey therein These with the Enterpreter and six Gent. were most within the walles lodged in a house ouer the gate besides wee had fifty Gunners to attend and gard vs in our going abroad The 8. of Octob. being the 4. day after our comming to Musco the Prestaues came to his Lordship to let him vnderstand they heard he should goe vp the next day wherefore they desired his speech and Ambassage to the Emperour and the rather that the Enterpreter might as they pretended translate it To this purpose very earnestly at seueral times they made demaund The Ambassador answered that he was sent from a mighty Prince to be his Ambassa to their Emperor hauing with no small danger passed the Sea and a second water trauaile with a long land Iourney and stil was comforted with hope to see his Maiesties cleere eyes that for a welcome was the tidings thereof vnto him Especially to haue audience within so short a space as he might not lesse do then ackcowledging the Emperors great fauour towards him and being sent to their maister he deemed it not onely a dishonor to him but a weaknes in them to require that at his hands which besides that he would never do he could not being to speak that in the deliuery was according as it pleased god to giue him time occasion memorie and courage being to come before a strange and mighty Prince where what he said was to be interpreted as pleased their Tolmatch This peremtorely and finally was his aunswere Yet whensoeuer he did go as he was both willing and ready at all houres â—e desired to haue certaine horse and other things which without them hee could not be so well prouided of So after banqueting departed away rather discontented then satisfied Surely it is a custome not so wise as auncient for theÌ„ to fal out into bad language if they canot haue their willes which to many would be as simple a demaund as it were folly in the Ambassador to graunt Especially if men knew how vndiscreete a man they woulde thinke him to be woulde please their humors herein For it is but a Stratigem they vse to vndermine withal that they may report the magnanimity or pusillanimity of the Ambas vnto the Emperor The 10. of October his Prestaues brought word as from the Lord Chaunsellor that he thought for they wil neuer tell any thing to come for certainty his Lordsh. should go before the Emperor the next morrow therfore prayed him to prouide also that he should haue the Em. horses to ride on of his guard to helpe carry vp his present of which they had after demâ—unde a particular The 11. of October his Lordship being sent for by his Prestaues ther waiting hauing excelent Iennets for himselfe the Kings Gentlemen and good horses for the restâ— as likewise two gallant white Palfreis to carrie or draw a rich Chariot one parcell of the great present with his followers and the Emperors guard carrying the rest At his gate many gallants attending for his receipt rode to the Court accompanied on each hand with his Prestaues and some others following him with manie Gentlemen behinde them Thus we rode a shorte vers beheld with thousand of eies on each side the streets standing the Emperors guarde with peeces in their hands well apparrelled to the number of two thousand by esteeme many messengers posting betwixt the Court and our Prestaues Thus with much state softly riding tell wee came vnto the vtmost gate of the court hauing passed thorogh the great Castle before there his Lordsh. dismounted Then met him a great Duke named Knase Andriay Metowich Soomederoue with certain Ge. to bring him vp So in order as we rode we assended the staires and a stone gallery where on each side stood many Nobles and Courtiers in faire coates of Persian stuffe veluet Damaske c. At the entry to the great chamb two Councellors incountred the Ambassa to conduct him thorogh that roome rounde about which sat many graue and richly apparrelled personages Then we entred the Presents whether being come and making obeysance we staide to hear but not vnderstand a very gallant Nobleman named Peter Bas-man deliuer the Emperors title Then the particular of the Presentes and some other ceremonies which performed the Ambassa hauing liberty deliuered so much of his Ambassage as the time and occasion then affoorded After which the Emperor arising from his throne demanded of the King of Englands health the Princes and Queenes then of the Ambassadours and the Kinges Gentlemen and how they had bene vsed since they entred within his dominions to al which with obeysance we answered as was meete Then the young Prince demaunded the very same The Ambassador hauing taken the Kings Letter of his Gentleman Vsher went vp after his obeysance to deliuer it which the Lord Chansellor would haue intercepted But the Ambass gaue it to the Emperors owne hands and his Maiesty afterwards deliueit to the Lord Chaunsellor who tooke it and shewing the superscription to the Emperor and
Dwnia from which I suddainely awaked with the vnknowne language of a Pilate sent from the Emperor to conduct my Lord vpon the Riuer which is or at least they thinke to vs it is a dangerous passage which Pilate excused his no sooner comming for want of knowledge of the Ambassadors being so nie But now come when to our Iourneys sickly certaine end we are so neere come howe thinke you must he not be welcome I assure you fresh Water is a more excellent companion then your salte humoryst and I shall loue fresh water-Souldiers for my Trauaile on the Seas while I liue wishinge when euer I fight to haue fresh water on my side to comfort me which wanting I shal be more wo-be-don then being in a wood though in Rusland or Leisland The 22. of Iuly beeing come within a mile of Tharch-angell we ankerd whether came at 11. of the clocke in the night a Gentleman Captain of 500. gunners named Maxim Vrin a man of good complement and of indifferent stature and presence aboard the Ambassadors shippe being mette with two Gentlemen and others he was brought into his Lordships Cabin where after rehearsing the Emperours and Princes Title which is euer their custome he declared to the Ambassador that his L. and Maister and the young Prince had sent him to knowe of his Maiesties health of Englande the Q. and Princes which the Ambassador answeared vnto then demaunded of his owne and the Gent. The Ambassador somewhat woondering what this Gent. should be considering former Ambassadors Entertainment presently was by him resolued with this prosecuting his former speeche That whereas the Emperor vnderstanding of the Ambassadors comming to shewe his great loue to his Maiesty of England the desire of peace and Amity as with his deere and louing Sister Elizabeth of happy memory late Queene of England contrary to any custome of his Maiesties heeretofore who neuer tooke knowledge thereafter had sent him to bee his Prestaue to prouide the Ambassadours house and victuals and to garde him from the Iniuries of a strange nation desiring that his seruice therein might expresse his thankefulnes to his Ma. for so great an honour and likewise be pleasing to the Ambassador Both which to deserue he would endeuor the best lay in his power The Ambassador though somewhat be-woondered or gratiously preuented verye kindely and thankfully accepted of this truly honourable fauor saying It behooued two such great Princes to vse the best meanes for Amity and friendship So the Prestaue banquetted as befitting his place was dismissed that night but yet before he went came aboorde the Ambassadors Shippe the Agent Maister Iohn Mericke diuers Marchants and other English men to see his Lordship as to welcome him to that Port of his desire who after some houres discourse priuately betwixt the Ambassador and the Agent tasting of his wine and Beere with halfe a score good peeces they were sent away Truely herein the extraordinary beginning was hope of a prosperous conclusion for this was a fauor neuer manifested to any heretofore who after their arriuall at the Castle staide and that very vntowardly till a poste were dispatched from the Gentleman or Gouernor of the Towne to the Musco which is 1000. Myles and his return with the Emperours further pleasure for his direction and warrant The 23. of Iuly the Prestaue the English Agent Marchants and other being come to bring the Ambassador with honor into his lodging he withall the Gent. before him and his Liueries before them two and two together accompanied as is aforesaid landed at the Castle in the road whereof then beeing many English French and Dutch Ships they discharged a mighty peale or rather many peales of Ordinance Thus the Ambassador came safely to his first lodging in Rushia The Prestaue takinge a solemne leaue went to see the Prouisions which were laide in before to be good as also to prouide necessarie lodginges for diuers which were to bee lodged abroad and others not as yet Landed for it was 4. daies before all our Ships came vp Here the Ambassador laie some fourteen dayes or lesse where in the meane time there was demanded a particular note of the names of all the Ambassadors traine fyrst of the Kings Gentlemen which name not onely the Emperor but the Great Turke Persian Moroco Princes do highly account of as indeed soothing their own greatnes therwith and we who were his seruants and highly graced by kissing the Princely hande of our royall K. meeting herein with any others trauailing in the same kind as also by our particular births not beeing lesse so vnexpectedly required of vs did vnder-goe the name as which we could not vvithout dishonor to the Ambassador and disaduantage to our Being refuse it being giuen by an Emperor who should be in that kingdome so great as not to allow it though he would which none could disproue Secondly of the Ambassadors Gent and thirdly of al the rest that attended which forthwith was deliuered to the Prestaue and sent vp by him to the Emperor the reasons hereof are as may be gathered to esteeme the state and honor of the Ambassador thereafter also to prouide accordingly for houses horses and other prouisions and perhappes to learne thereby what names of great houses are amonge the kinges Gent. as particularly now they did inquire after Here it pleased the English agent M. Iohn Mericke truely a wise honest and kinde Gent. to inuite all the Gentlemen to their house to dinner whether he would haue vvillingly invited the Ambas if hee might haue presumed thereupon and of the fitnes considering that as yet letters were not secondarilie come from the Emperor for the gent. farther proceeding whereby he woulde happily haue made a question there of as also for the Ambass greatnes the towne then so ouercharged with many Nations it could not be performed according to the respect ambassadors are vsed with there nor perhaps would it be well agreeing to their more priuate fashion who hold it greatest glory for greatest men rather to be reported of then seene c. But we were very bountifully feasted and as kindly and hartily welcome as an honest mind rather indeed with vertue then formality might expresse the Ambassadour hauing many daintye dishes sent home to his owne house Now the whole company of Ships safely arriued and all the Ambas followers landed some daies before it came forthwith into the care and loue of the Ambas being by the Agent well informed of diuers vices customes and Obseruations fit either to be followed or auoyded who was euer desirous to keepe an honorable opinion to himselfe and an honest name in his followers as in his going vp to the Court so euer after also to ingraue within their memories their happy deliuerance from the Sea before his departing the Arch-angel very honorably thus to aduise counsell them SInce it hath pleased the Almightye of his great mercy safely to protect vs in our dangerous trauaile vpon