all these Obligations And for all these new causes and upon those good and auncient grounds his most Serene Majesty declares in your own Imperial words than which none could be either more significant in themselves or more consonant to his sense That his most Serene Majesty taking into consideration the flourishing estate of his Kingdomes that intire brotherly love and amity and frequent correspondency which was inviolable held and continued from the beginning of the Reign of his Royal Father Charles the First of blessed memory with Your Imperial Father of blessed memory the great Lord Emperour and great Duke Michael Pheoderovith of all Russia self-upholder and the happiness and tranquillity thereby accruing to both Dominions doth most earnestly and heartily desire not only the continuance thereof but a nearer and dearer and firmer affectionate brotherly love and frequent correspondency with Your Imperial Majestie His deare and loving Brother than formerly For Conclusion wishing and praying to the Omnipotent God His and Your only King and Sovereign that he will grant you length of daies tranquillity of Reign perpetuity of friendships and all other Imperial blessings beyond the atchievements of all Your immortal Ancestors and that there may never want of Your most Illustrious line to sit upon your Imperial Throne so long as the Sun and Moon endure His most Serene Majestie likewise returnes his most affectionate salutations and friendly congratulations to the great prince Alexey Alexevich the Heir of your Imperial Dominions and the great Pheodor Alexevich Those two Shafts of the Imperial Quiver which at what so ever glorious marke Your Majestie shall draw them you can miss with neither Those two Pledges of peace to Your Subjects and a double terrour to your Enemies His most Serene Majestie had long since heard of their hopefulness and virtues worthy of so Illustrious a parantage and therefore was highly delighted to understand by Your Ambassadors that in their affection to Him also they did so well follow their Fathers pattern which he therefore thankfully accepts as an Obligation on Himself and a Treasure for his Successors Certainly augurating that those two Sonnes of the Russian Eagle as they are now sharpning their sight daily at the most clear eyes of Your Imperial Majestie so will also in due time extend their wings after Your example and soar to the highest pitch that true virtue and indefatigable labour can carry the magnanimous offspring of Princes And now for what concerns my self as I can receive no command from His most Serene Majestie my most Gracious Lord Master but what places a new honour upon me so must I acknowledg that in chusing me for this Embassage He has done me as great an honour as He could command me For whereas from the supreme munificency of Himself and His immortal Ancestors I have and inherit several possessions and dignities but of which other men might also be equally capable may it be spoken without vanity the Sun only that posts on a daily Embassage betwixt both Your Dominions can justly dispute the precedence with me in this Employment So that having been thus farr made a partaker and witness of the Glorie and Serenity of Your Imperial Majestie which may it long continue I can have nothing further in my wishes than that You will still vouchsafe me the same favour toward the happy expedition of His most Serene Majesties affaires for the mutual Advantage of both Your Crowns and the good of posterity Unto which ends as I am bound by all the Obligations of dutie to my most Gracious Prince Lord and Master so shall I bring all the affection Zeale and diligence which may befit so laudable an undertaking In order to which I doubt not but Your Imperial Majestie likewise will appoint me such Commissioners as shall bring the same â—andor and inclination together with â—hat dispatch and expedition which is necessary for the furthering of so great â—nd good a design My Lord Ambassador having made an end of his speech which was well approved of His Tzarskoy Majestie told him that he would do him the honor to let him kisse His hand therefore he went up again to the Throne and kissed His hand according to the custom of Christian Ambassadors For it is a ceremonie that they must be subject to in this Court though indeed it is a thing much inferior to the dignity of an Ambassador who under that Character should rather keep themselves equal with the Princes Majestie than to condescend to such a low submission Nor do I doubt but that my Lord Ambassador had rather accepted of such a condition as they put to Infidels Ambassadors who are not admitted to the performance of this Ceremonie because the Tzar counts it a great favour and therefore He does reserve it only for Christians He did also the same honour to my Lord his Gentlemen who all kissed his hand decently and in good order while his Excellency sate upon a forme that his Tzarskoy Majestie Himself called for to that purpose The mean while there was a Boyar to uphold the Tzars right hand that was kissed lest He should come to be tired and with the left hand He held His heavy Scepter In this conjuncture my Lord recommanded from the King to his Tzarskoy Majestie Sir John Hebdon who was come along with my Lord from England where he had been of late his Tzarskoy Majesties Agent And therefore because being in that employment he had bestowed a great care and prudence in promoting the common good of both Crowns His Majestie thought fit to acquaint upon this occasion his Tzarskoy Majestie with the singular esteem He had for his person These are the words my Lord spoke in the said Knights behalf as he was stepping next to my Lord of Morpeth to kisse the Tzars hand This Gentleman saies he is I suppose well known to Your Imperial Majestie He hath done Your Imperial Majestie very good service in the Court of England and therefore his Majestie hath a particular esteeme for him and has commanded me to recommend him more particularly when I shall next have the honour to be admitted to Your Imperial presence The Gentlemen having all kissed the Tzars hand the Presents that were sent by the hundred and thirty men came in and passed in very good order on one side of the great pillar and so went about into a room next to the hall Thereupon my Lord Ambassador stood up and said to his Majestie His most Sèrene Majestie hath sent a Present as a token of His affection to Your Imperial Majestie which whatsoever it is the value thereof will be multiplied by the kind acceptance of Your Imperial Majestie The First thing that came in was a Gun of King Charles the First and therefore his Excellencie presented it with this Compliment This Gun was delivered to me by his Majesties own hand being excellent in its kind the same which his Royal Father of blessed and glorious memorie used to
shoot in and which as a Relique of that renowned Prince he thought could not be better dedicated than to the hands of Your Imperial Majestie Next to the Gun came a paire of Pistolets whereupon my Lord spoke again That pair of Pistolets saith he his Majestie delivered me also with his own hand commanding me to excuse their oldness which he thought would not make them less acceptable when You knew they where those with which after so long adversity He rid in His triumphant Entry into His Metropolitan City of London The Plate came next to those Pistolets and in the first place a great silver-guilt Basin supported upon two mens armes so all the rest passed by without stopping next to the Tzars the presents allowed for the two Princes then the Queenes present to the Dutchess and at last my Lord Ambassadors Thus ended the Audience and my Lord being brought home was treated as it is usual in that Court at Audience-daies with the Tzars own meat and it was therefore sent presently from the Palace There was about an hundred dishes brought publickly in order with good store of wine brandy and meade His Majestie sent also one private Boyar to take a care of all the Ceremonies that were to be observed but the greatest Ceremonie being to drink many healths he made sure to have every health written in a bill in the same order as the Tzar had appointed him His Excellency sate at the middle of the table upon his chair of State at his right hand was my Lord of Morpeth and at his left Sir John Hebdon both at each end of the table so that they were prettie distant from my Lord Ambassador the Moscovites sate together at the other side of the table which was square and crosswise set My Lord having furnished his own plates took occasion to make use himself alone of a dozain of silver-guilt plates he had but the Boyars not liking that Ceremonie seemed to look upon it with a jealous eye yet his Excellency kept them as cheerful as he could both by his graceful presence of spirit and the sweetness of his Musick The Boyar who directed the feast did also play his part with his healths holding the paper in his hand and presently begun his great Lords good health Though indeed I think he liked farr better the King of Englands for my Lord Ambassador presented him with the cup wherein he drunk it being of silver-guilt wherewith he was so much taken that he scarce minded any thing else and so went away with it The 13. of February my Lord had again Audience of the Tzar and also his first Conference with the Commissioners appointed by his Tzarskoy Majestie We went in the same order and manner as we did the first time but my Lord Ambassador was led into another hall much handsomer than the first the inner-roof being fairely guilt with very good pictures there were also fair windows and very rich tapestrie The Tzar was upon a little Throne not above two steps over the ground yet having still the Crown upon his head and the Scepter in his hand and at his right hand there was the Imperial Globe This Audience being a little private and therefore not so copious of Boyars the Tzar inquired of the Ambassadors health and told him besides that having caused the Kings Letter to be translated he knew thereby his Majesties desire and that consequently he had appointed six Commissioners amongst his near Boyars and Counsellors to treat with him about his affaires So my Lord did not stay with the Tzar above a quarter of an hour then he stood very near to him but still with his hat off While he was going to the room appointed for the Conference he was met twice by some of their Boyars wearing great gold chaines about them which I thought to be something like those Aethiopian slaves whose chaines were also of gold My Lord being come to the room he and his Commissioners sate together and he delivered them one paper about the Reparation promised in his Tzarskoy Majesties name before he made his Entrance and another concerning the Restitution of the Privileges enjoyed formerly by the English Company Thus was the first paper written FOr as much as the second day after my arrivall at the Yaws but five versts from this Citie notice having been given me by Offonassie Evanovich Nestrof my Pristaff that his Imperial Majestie expected me the next day being the fifth of February in Mosco and that about nine a Clock I should be ready to set forward I was thereupon before the said houre ready accordingly with all my train and equipage to make my solemn Entry into His said Imperial Citie of Mosco but was nevertheless detained in a noisome wisby the whole day without meat or drink for my self or attendants And when at the last order came to my Pristaff I was after having been for an houres time or more led up and down the Fields out of the way to the Citie instead of entring into the Imperial Citie according to appointment lodged in a mean village three miles distant Which indeed was the same evening in the name of his Imperial Majestie excused to me upon the mistake of the Posts and Messengers sent out for direction Whereupon I thought necessarie to write thence to his Imperial Majestie to inform His said Imperial Majestie of what had passed and of my resolution not to stirr out of that place until satisfaction were given me for so great an indignity as it to me appeared And forasmuch as before the answer to the said Letter there was upon the sixth of February sent from his Imperial Majestie to me the Diack of the imperial Cabinet to desire me by any means to make my Entrance the same day and the said Diack promising that all satisfaction should be given me concerning the said indignitie I did therefore accordingly make my Entry into this Citie the said sixth day of February but have not yet received any sufficient account concerning the occasion the manner and the punishment of the said miscarriage as in so weighty a business appertaines And forasmuch as by reason of the said miscarriage I was which I account a damage irreparable detained one whole day longer from the honor and felicity of seeing His Imperial Majestie and am so much the longer withheld from proposing what I have from the King my Master for the good of both Estates And forasmuch as in the eye and discourse of the whole World the honour of the King my Master has thereby exceedingly suffered and will daily more without a satisfaction as publick and notorious as the miscarriage And forasmuch as otherwise I can give no good account to the King my Master to whom I am responsible with my head should I digest any such indignities I therefore desire that his Imperial Majestie will be pleased to command that a perfect narrative in the most authentick manner of the reason of that disorder
first coming to the Ambassador said to him that His Tzarskoy Majesty had ordered them and the Ambassador to come to Mosco naming themselves before the Ambassador Likewise the said Stolnick refused absolutely to furnish the Gentlemen with sledds convenient and would only allow them such bare sledds as are used by the common Mousicks so that the Ambassador was forced to buy those sledds for the Gentlemen with his own money Also the said Stolnick was so strict in matters of provision that the Ambassador was refused one single egg for his use the Chalavalnicks or Purveyors alledging that they durst not do it without the said Stolnicks order and that they durst not wake him Besides at Yeroslaf Troitza and other places upon the way the Ambassador was unnecessarily detained several daies from proceeding on his journey to his Tzarskoy Majesty And at last the Ambassador being arrived at the Yaws some four English miles from Mosco and having staid there two days was overnight upon the fourth of February told by the said Stolnick that he had orders for his entring into Mosco the next day and therefore desired him to be ready by nine a clock in the morning which he was Nevertheless he and his whole retinue were staid all the next day at the Yaws till four in the evening without any meat or drink or the least refreshment whatsoever and at that unseasonable hour orders came for their going on to Mosco And being more than half way thither then came new orders that the Ambassador should not make his Entry that night but turn into a village yet worse than the Yaws There came that night to the Ambassador the Diack Lookian Timopheovich Golozof from the Tzar laying the fault upon the messengers sent with orders from Mosco who he said mist their way to the Yaws The Ambassador spoke neither then nor at any time else of all or any of the former indignities but this being so notorious he demanded reparation and that till then he would not stir hence toward Mosco And yet Demente Bashmacof Diack of the Taynich Deal coming to him the next morning promising in his Tzarskoy Majesties name he should have satisfaction in less than a quarter of an hours space he condescended to make his Entry and did not spend half an hour in setting forward But whereas his Tzarskoy Majesty Commissioners formerly as now His Embassadors say that the Earle of Carlisle spun out that day also until the evening it was not so But all the time that was spun out was partly by Doomnoy Duoranin Evan Offanassevich Pronchissof who though he were sent forth to the Embassador to be his Pristaf into Mosco sat in his Sledd formalizing a long time that the Embassador should first come out of his Sledd to him and after a tedious capitulation and agreement before so many spectators whereby they were to come out together yet the said Doomnoy Duoranin making a feint of stepping forward hung in the air among the arms of his attendants to cheat the Embassador And the other stay which was very long was by reason of those troops of Gentlemen and others that were present who to make the guard continue and hold out to the eye were forced ever and anon to make a stand while those that had met the Embassador before should under the blind of those next to him gallop away behind to fill up a new station forward And so it was night again before the Ambassador could enter which might have been prevented by expecting one day longer as the Ambassador moved the Diack of the Taynich Deale But those great Wax-tapers which the Ambassadors speak of in their paper were in so good order that it is evident it was resolved upon a night Entry in good time before hand As to the Ambassadors first Audience it was indeed agreed upon that it should be upon the ninth of February and the Doomnoy Duoranin told the Ambassador that was a great sign of his Tzarskoy Majesties favour yet it was afterwards put off that it must not be till the eleventh of February for what contrary reason the Ambassador knows not Also although at his first Audience he told his Tzarskoy Majesty that he had particular commands from his Royal Majesty concerning Sir John Hebdon yet the Ambassador was refused to deliver that recommendatory Letter concerning him to his Tzarskoy Majesties own hand but obliged to tender it to his Commissioners Also at coming to Conference the Lords Commissioners stood up alwaies within the Room without moving to meet the Ambassador and also at all Conferences they took the high end of the Table The Ambassador delivered at the first Conference a very treatable and courtly demand of reparation for the miscarriage of his Entry And though he then signified that he could not proceed to other matters of State till that were rectified yet upon the Commissioners earnest motion and ingaging their honours towards his Reparation he at the same time delivered in another Proposition concerning the restitution of the Priviledges And the Restitution of the Priviledges is a matter of State joyntly concerning the true brotherly love of both great Princes and certainly the foundation thereof was laid in the Priviledges To these first Propositions of the Ambassador the Commissioners gave in their answer Wherein they assume all their own Titles and name themselves before the Ambassador Extraordinary but him they call only plain Knez Charles Howard Also speaking of his Royal Majesties Father they call him only Slauopamite of glorious memory but his Tzarskoy Majesties Father Blagenniopamite of ever blessed memory Concerning the Ambassadors Entry they now add another pretence the long time of arraying the Courtiers and military Troops for his Reception They say the Ambassador ought not before he came into Mosco to have demanded reason and reparation of his being staid the first day They accuse the Ambassador for staying the second day And they say the Messengers by whom the delay was caused had been punished which was not so and if ever the least thing had been done in order thereto the Ambassador had desisted and he signified frequently to the Commissioners that he himself would have interceded for their pardon Then as to the matter of Priviledges for answer they raise an high accusation against the whole Russia Company word for word as it was delivered to Prideaux Cromwel's Agent of which nothing was then or ever since proved in particular But whereas his Tzarskoy Majesty had given to understand to his Royal Majesty as if the Priviledges had been taken away in detestation of the late Rebellion in England that is only mentioned for numbers sake But they lay great stress upon a Letter sent they say by his late Majesty to his Tzarskoy Majesty by Luke Nightingale desiring the abrogating of the Priviledges And in this their first answer they conclude positively against the granting any Priviledg not so much as blanching it in hansom words as his Tzarskoy
The Right honble Charles Earle of Carlisle vicoâ—â—â— Howard of Morpeth Baron Dacre of Gilsland Lord Lieutenant in the Counties of Cumberland and Westmoreland and one of the Lords of his Maiesties most Honourable Privy Councell etc. 〈◊〉 fec A Relation Of Three EMBASSIES From his Sacred MAJESTIE Charles II TO THE Great Duke of MUSCOVIE The King of SWEDEN and The King of DENMARK Performed by the Right honble the EARLE of CARLISLE in the Years 1663 1664. Written by an Attendant on the Embassies and published with his L ps Approbation LONDON Printed for John Starkey at the Miter in Fleetstreet near Temple-Barr 1669. To his Excellency the Right Honourable Charles Earle of Carlisle Viscount Howard of Morpeth Baron Dacre of Gillesland Lord Lieutenant in the Counties of Cumberland and Westmorland One of his Majesties most Honourable Privy Councel and at this present Ambassador Extraordinary to the King of Sweden My Lord WHen I consider the Perfections and Sublime Qualifications wherewith Nature hath so advantagiously adorned Your Eâ—cellency I cannot but think would be an injury to the Publicâ— should I omit to attempt some deâ—lineation thereof And seeing 〈◊〉 is no new thing for others to bâ— ambitious of describing the Actioâ— of Great Men it is but reasonabâ— that I who for sometime have beeâ— an ocular witness of those of Youâ— Lordships should erect a Monâ—ment for Posterity of the same Upon this account it is that I noâ— publish this Work under Your Excellencies favourable Protection bâ— which it is manifest that Your Excellency hath born the Charactâ—â— of Your Prince thorow three foâ—raign Nations with all imaginabâ—â— Prudence and Honour There is nothing to be seen in the whole Sâ—ries of Your Lordships Conducâ— but what is generous and Noble and in which Your Excellency makes it appear with what Reason and judgement His Majestie made choice of Your Person for the Representation of his own under the Illustrious Title of His AMBASSADOR EXTRAORDINARY Which same Honour being now conferred upon You again is a sufficient Proof of the Verity of my Sentement and without further Enlarging upon Your Lordships Worth I believe the Knowledge alone of Your Lordship is sufficient to render You beloved which yet one cannot do but with a most profound respect For my part my Lord if I have any Ambition in the Publication of this Work of which Your Excellency is both the Subject and Ornament it is onely that I may have the Advantage to testifie to the World with how much Zeal and Devotion I am MY LORD Your Excellencies Most humble and most Faithful servant G. M. The Authors Preface to the Reader IT was the saying of an Antient That the Spirit of Man affects Novelties which is justified by daily Observation For any thing to which a man is accustomed long commonly grows unpleasant whereas Variety delights him and rescues his Imagination from the tediousness of ordinary Objects Hence is the desire men have naturally to Travaile and though it withdraws one from his Relations and Country and exposeth him to several incommodities and perils yet the pleasure of his Voiage preponderates all apprehensions and renders all discouragements contemptible and vain And as there is Pleasure in Travailing so it hath in my judgment its Vtility likewise and its Profit as well as Diversion Of this Homer seems to be sensible when amongst all the Elogies and Encomiums he gives to Ulysses one of the principal was That he had seen several Countries and made Observation of their Fashions and Manners Ever since I understood that the World was not altogether shut up in my own Country I have had a constant inclination to travail and in my travels a curiosity to observe according to my talent what I thought most considerable In the Voiage I had the honour to make with the Right Honourable the Earl of Carlisle during his Embassies to Moscovy Sweden and Denmark I had a particular opportunity to gratify my self And forasmuch as Moscovy is a Country little known saving to its Neighbours I fixt my design there more particularly and resolved to inform my self as exactly as was possible of the nature of that Country and its Inhabitants In the mean time I observed also all the remarkable passages of our Travails but especially the pompous solemnities wherewith the Ambassador was received as I had besides the advantage of being imployed about the Negotiation I neglected nothing of that whereby I might instruct my self of States-business The Voyage being over I put my Memoires in order and framed them into a continued discourse so that afterwards I had the satisfaction now and then to review all what I had seen I communicated what I had done with some of my Friends who found the subject too good to be buried in oblivion and wanted not arguments to invite me to Print it But then I was not yet of that mind being very careful how I exposed my self to the Censure of the World and I took alwaies that enterprize to be too dangerous and bold Nam nulli tacuisse nocet nocet esse locutum Yet seeing at last that I might doe it under my Lord of Carlisles Protection and with a full Permission I thought nothing could excuse me if I neglected a thing wherein his Excellencies Interest the Publicks and my own perhaps were concerned And accordingly besides the General Description of the Voyage and the manner wherewith the Ambassador was received the Reader will find in the Relation of the first Embassy an exact Description of Moscovy and of all that passed there in his Excellencies Negotiation There I display the naked truth of the business how contrary to the expectations of all Europe his Excellency was treated there after so many effectual testimonies of Friendship the King of great Britain and the Tzar of Moscovy had received from one onother There a man shall see how unworthily some of the Tzars Commissioners dealt with my Lord Ambassador and made such an Embassy fruitless how instead of taking care for the preservation of that Amity which for so long time had continued betwixt the Crowns of England and Moscovy they suffered themselves to be so far transported as to become instrumental in the diminution thereof And this is clear thorough the whole Series of the Negotiation in which on the one side there is nothing to be seen but a just and well grounded deduction of reasons tending only to the reinforcement of the antient Alliance Whereas on the other it is plain their blind interest had prepossessed them and that they were contented to be Friends for the future but upon condition it seems they should be required no more to give any fair and competent testimonies of their being such This is the unexpected humour wherein his Excellency found the Court of Moscovy who causlesly disliking his whole manner of proceeding found fault with those very actions which were generous and honourable in him And indeed why that Court should have
opposed it self so obstinately against his Lordship I know no other reason but because his Lordship acted with much Zeal and Vigour for the Interest of the King and his Subjects and because he would not prostitute the dignity of his Office to the ridiculous pride of a Stolnick or a Boyar nor patiently endure several disobligations in their manner of proceeding In the Courts of Sweden and Denmark during our small Residence amongst them it was clear otherwise For there his Excellence received all manner of satisfaction being laden with praise and honour and in short used with as much kindness and respect as could be expected from two Nations whose Politeness and Vrbanity are clear different from the Humour of the Moscovite So that in changing of Climates we found also a great difference of Humours From whence it is easy to be seen that if the Court of Moscovy were not favourable to my Lord Ambassador it was only Prepossession and Interest which hindered them from making a right estimate both of his person and affair For it is most certain his Excellency employed all imaginable endeavors and that nothing obstructed them but a fatal Pertinacity in those that treated with him This being in general the nature and success of these Embassies the first makes the greatest part of my history for the other two Embassies being speedily performed affoard but little matter besides the Complements which the Ambassador made in the behalf of his Royal Master to the Kings and Queens of Sweden and Denmark But the thing that concludes this Work is an Apology presented by his Excellency soon after his return to London against the pretensions of those Ambassadors whom the Tzar had sent to the King after the first Embassy to complain of his Excellencies comportment in that Court. In this Apology his Lordship gives for his justification a large Narrative of the manner both of his own proceeding and of that of the Moscovites towards him to the Russ Ambassadors confusion who had laid an hainous charge against him Thus having given here a general account of these Embassies I leave the perusing of the whole Work to the Reader intending to have it shortly published also in French the Copy being now ready for the Press ERRATA PAge 25. last line read of this Entry p. 32. l. 5. for they change r. there are some Gourds that change p. 37. 23. r. with one small oar p. 43. l. 4. r. tops l. 10. for furr r. felt p. 56. l. 7. r. than they do p. 60. l. 24. r. short sighted p. 65. l. 27. r. illuminated p. 68. last l. r. Altin p. 83. l. 26. r. streets p. 93. l. 21. dele and l. 29. r. Shousca p. 104. l. 2. r. fell l. 20. r. which p. 118. l. 15. r. fumosi p. 120. l. 22. r. Me. p. 151. l. 25. r. amazed p. 159. l. 26. r. Indiâ p. 160. l. 9. r. subjungit p. 177. l. 6. r. great Prince p. 180. l. 12. r. himself p. 215. l. 27. r. Serena p. 228. l. 25. r. remotis p. 235. l. 1. r. tam longam p. 239. l. 6. r. nisi p. 242. l. 26. r. recensere p. 243. l. 4. r. que p. 245 l. 23. r. excedere and last l. r. dixerint p. 253. l. 23 r. Tzarskoy Majesty p. 288. l. 11 for and r. from p. 309. l. 3. dele and p. 315 l. 1 r. intuitu p. 325 l. 16 for re r. ne p. 354. l. 14. r. that friendship p. 357 l. 2 r. contribuere and l. 11. r. effusissimam p. 367 l. 1. for who r. and his Majesty p. 384. l. 12 for only r. But not far from it p. 392 ◠13. r. constitutae p. 396. l. 14. after Queen r. his Excellency received p. 417. l. 2. r. afflaverint Having seen the Relation of my Embassies into Moscovy Sweden and Denmark written by G. M. I do hereby give him leave to print and publish the same Carlisle The 30. of November 1668. Licensed March the 26. 1669 Roger L' Estrange The Table THe Occasion of these Embassies Pag. 1 2 The whole extent of the Voiage Pag. 5 Of our Voiage from London to Archangel Pag. 6 Of the Embassadors Entry into Archangel Pag. 23 The Description of Muscovy Pag. 26 The Russes Origine Pag. 39 Their Shape and Proportion Pag. 39 Their Habits Pag. 40 Their Language Pag. 43 Their Nature and Genius Pag. 44 Their manner of living in oeconomy Pag. 49 Their Women have great respect for their Husbands Pag. 51 How they use Bath-stoves which are very common amongst them Pag. 53 Ther manner of Divertisements Pag. 54 Under what Policy they live and what kind of Government they have Pag. 56 The Greatness Riches and absolute Power of their Tzar Pag. 58 The great Humility his Subjects express to him Pag. 60 Three general Maxims whereby the Russians are kept under a strict Discipline Pag. 61 What kind of Magistrates the Tzar keeps under him Pag. 66 Their Law-suits are quickly dispatched Pag. 67 Their manner of punishment Pag. 67 Their Coyn Pag. 68 What time they begin their day and their year Pag. 69 Their Religion Pag. 70 Of the Embassadors Stay at Archangel and how unmannerly his Pristaf shewed himself when first he received him Pag. 79 A short Description of the Samojedes Pag. 83 The Preparations for our Voiage to Vologda Pag. 85 Of his Excellences Voiage from Archangel to Vologda Pag. 86 A passage therein of a rude and stubborn Governour of a Province Pag. 90 Of the Ambassadors residence in Vologda Pag. 95 How ill we were used there some three or four weeks Pag. 96 97 Of our Journey from Vologda to Mosco in sledges Pag. 107 Our preparations for our Entry into Mosco Pag. 113 The description of the Entry about which the Embassador received two or three affronts and the Letter he sent thereupon to the Great Duke Pag. 115 A Description of Mosco Pag. 135 The maner of our living there Pag. 139 The preparations for the Audience the presents from the King to the Great Duke and how my Lord went to the Pallace Pag. 143 The Pomp and splendor of that Court as we saw it at this Audience Pag. 147 The Speech which the Embassador made in the name of the King his Master to the Grand Duke Pag. 164 Some remarkable passages of this Audience after the Speech was ended Pag. 180 Another short Audience two days after Pag. 184 The beginning of my Lords Negotiation with six Lords Commissioners whom the Tzar had appointed him Pag. 185 The unexpected answer given to his Excellency about his business Pag. 248 Some smart Replyes since given on both sides Pag. 196 A Speech said at a Private Audience by my Lord Ambassador to the Tzar about the ill success of his business Pag. 248 His Excellence demanded Reparation from Pronchiss of one of his Pristafs and one of the Commissioners as having affronted him in several points Pag. 278 Some other passages of
of names of the persons criminal both principals and accessory and what example of justice his Imperial Majestie who cannot but be most tender of the honor of a Prince and such a Prince as the King my Master hath shewed upon them may be delivered to me under the hands and seales of the Lords Commissioners for my justification Which I do expect with the most vehement impatiency that I may forthwith proceed into the particulars of that friendly Negotiation In order to which I have leapt over all complaints of lesser moment as not being come to pick quarrels but to cement the most perfect union that ever hath been betwixt the two Crowns unto which God grant an happy success and perfection Given the 13 of February Anno D ni 1663. 4. CARLISLE These were the words of the Second paper WHereas the first foundation of that happy Correspondency and great Amity betwixt the Kings of England and Emperours of Russia was laid in the Privileges granted to the English Merchants by the said Emperours of Russia in regard of the trade first introduced by them by the way of Archangel Whereby not only the Subjects of both Countries and of this Country especially have reaped great advantages but also both Princes and particularly the Emperours of Russia in several great affaires of state and otherwise have had further occasion to receive great assistance and effectual testimonies of friendship from one another His Majestie of England desiring not only to equalize but to excel all His Predecessors in the firmness strictness of brotherly amity intire correspondence with his Imperial Majestie and considering that those first foundations layed by the singular Providence of God and wisdom of the former Princes and which by the duration of so many years have been approved to be most solid and permament are therefore the most proper grounds whereon to raise a building of perpetual Friendship hath therefore commanded me as I do in His name first of all to desire the Restitution of the former Privileges as they were enjoyed in the time of the Father of his Imperial Majestie and in the Reign of his present Imperial Majestie before the taking of them away upon occasion of the late Rebellion in England And these being first granted his Majestie will further manifest by me the great affection which He bears to his Imperial Majestie Given the 13 of February Anno D ni 1663. 4. CARLISLE The 17. my Lord Ambassador had another Conference in the Pallace where his Commissioners read to him their answer to his two papers but refused to give him yet a Copy of it In that answer all things were quite contrary to his expectations so that he thought fit thereupon to speak somewhat hard to them Then it happened that one great casement of the room wherein they were assembled together fell down with such a horrid noise that the Lords Commissioners were quite astonished and wished my Lord had spoken more gently An Interpreter of theirs who was an outlandish man speaking afterwards to that purpose said If saith â—he two or three words of anger of My Lord Ambassador's do so shake off the house how would they tremble if they heard King Charles thundring at their ears with just indignation The 26. Pronchissof brought my Lord Ambassador a Copy of their answer read to him the seventeenth But lest I should tire the Reader with an ill compacted discourse whose stile and meaning are equally rude and unpleasant I shall only tell the substance of it in as few words as I can And first as to the Reparation demanded by my Lord Ambassador in his first paper of 13. of February they say when they have much extolled the greatness of the pomp that was shewn at his Reception which they take to be the most glorious that ever was made in their Court to any Ambassador that the disorder aforesaid happened upon the mistake of the Posts That it was not fit he should make his Entry by night and that his Tzarskoy Majestie had therefore given order that he should lodge that night nearer Mosco so that the next day he might be received betimes with a splendor answerable to his quality And so that so many strangers who lived in Mosco might see by this Reception how great is the Amity which their Great Lord beares to his Majestie and that they might discourse of it in their several Countries But to that they added a thing that surprised very much his Excellency saying that he himself staied also a great while the next day after many Messengers were sent unto him And presently after they make bold to tell him that he ought not to have demanded satisfaction in that place where then he was And at last without any other proofs they only say that those Messengers who accidentally missed their way the first day had been chastised Their answer to the second Paper concerning the Priviledges of the English Company was no less unreasonable they refused them under the following pretences which they alledge for good and solid reasons First of all they say the Priviledges were abolished upon occasion of the late Rebellion of England and that the English Company of Archangel was guilty of it Then they speak of one Luke Nightingale whom they affirm to have been sent secretly to his Tzarskoy Majestie by the late Kings Majestie during the Rebellion to give Him notice of it and to desire Him to abrogate the Priviledges of the English Company as having also put off their Obedience Adding moreover that this same Nightingale had Letters from the King that he was very private with his Royal Majestie â—nd very trustie to Him Besides they tell what this pretended Agent gave the Boyars â—hat treated with him notice of that the Faâ—tors of the English Company had at that time â—roguish design with one Iohn Cartwrite a â—ember of the Company to rob his Tzarskoy Majestie 's Subjects in the East-Countries and â—hat shortly after the said Cartwrite did accomplish his design Whereupon they say that John Hebdon so they call the Knight that I mentioned before was Factor to this same Cartwrite Afterwards they lay an hainous charge against the said Company as that they had not furnished the Tzars treasury with their commodities at the same price they were sold for in England that they had sold prohibited commodities as Tobacco and that besides they offered to take strangers goods to carry them through the Country custome free Lastly they speak of a general complaint made by the Russes Merchants and Tradesmen as if the English Merchants had all the trade themselves and grew thereby very rich in a short time whereas his Tzarskoy Majesties Subjects grew poorer every day They alleadge also that the Merchants who were first nominated for the Priviledges were dead so that it seemes they will have the Priviledges to dy with them After this answer the Commissioners were pleased as if they had a mind thereby to be
revenged of the former Reparation required by his Excellencie to complain also on theiâ— side most vehemently of the Title most Illustrious that he had given his Tzarskoy Majestie This was the occasion and manner oâ— their complaint Pronchissof one of the sâ— Commissioners had of my Lord upon hiâ— desire a Latin Copy of the Speech said aâ— the first Audience where indeed he gives the Tzar the Title of Illustrissimus That was the thing that they stickt to but as to the expression said publickly by word of mouth before the Great Duke himself which should be thought more offensive they had the goodness to interpret it in good part because they gave it a good sense according to their own will But a writing that was only given â—o satisfie a mans curiositie who desired to see it is now become a very great matter of State every word of it is examined strictly â—s if the whole business were only to pick quarrels Such was the occasion of the great â—nvective they gave here in writing against â—llustrissimus which they take to be much â—nferiour to the dignity and grandeur of their Monarch Therefore they require of my Lord Ambassador that instead thereof he make use â—f Serenissimus that he would also acquaint â—is Royal Majestie with it whom they desire â—ogether to leave off most Illustrious and to â—rite most Serene when it shall be his pleaâ—ure to write to their Great Lord. To that â—urpose they say that all other Princes of Euâ—ope do it according to his Princely worth â—nd amongst others the Caesar for a proof â—hereof they had already shewed my Lord â—mbassador one of his Letters being at Conâ—erence with them His Excellencie took then â—otice how the Emperour called Him only Tzar according to His own Language and therefore he resolved ever since to do so and never name him Emperour as he had done hitherto after the custome of English Monarchs and their Subjects The 29. my Lord Ambassador had another Conference where he did so reply in writing first concerning the Reparation promised the sixth of February I reply saith he that it is hard for me to conceive whereas his Tzarskoy Majestie is able at so great distances in his absence by the good order of his Generals to embattle so numerous and victorious Armies upon the sudden opportunities of fighting aâ— Enemy that after my so slow advancing from Vologda and three days lodging almost undeâ— the Gates of his Tzarskoy City the continuaâ— Attendants upon his own Person where theâ— can learn and see nothing but the most perfecâ— and exquisite Order should not in a wholâ— day be in a posture to receive the Ambassadoâ— of a Friend And again that it is almost aâ— strange to me that his Tzarskoy Posts whâ— run daily at his Command through so spacious Dominions which may ever be inlarged that they who would not miss a foot at midnight thorough the very desarts of Tartary yet should lose their way in broad day-light within three or four miles of Mosco Anâ— yet I am most assured that his Tzarskoy Majestie did really intend to reflect upon me that day all the Honour which according to the custome of his Court is due to the Character I bring from my Royal Master So that there seemes to be much more in it than an accident especially seeing that Persons sent that same day to the same place upon an incivility to Sir John Hebdon a Gentleman of his Majesties privy Chamber and of my Train could finde the way early in the morning but those that were sent about my Reception did miss it till night And therefore because so many Strangers of several Nations which dwell in his Tzarskoy City were winesses that day of such miscarriage contrary to the good pleasure of his Tzarskoy Majestie as no age nor no Nation can paralel and that they have and do and will discourse of it according to their own apprehensions both here and in their several Countries neither to the advantage of the King my Master nor yet of his Tzarskoy Majestie unless His prudence may appear in his Justice Therefore I say I demanded what is in my first paper mentioned But instead thereof I am told in this paper delivered to me the 26. of February that the next day after many Messengers being sent unto me I also stayed late To which I reply that it is very possible that many Messengers were sent to me that day and that they lost their way then as the others the day before And indeed in the place where I was it was yet difficulter to finde me especially seeing it appeares the nearer one comes to Mosco men are more ignorant of the Roads But the first message that I received that day was by a very considerable Person the Diack of the Imperial Cabinet and assoon as we had spoken together and he promised me satisfaction which if I ought not to have asked he ought not to have promised but being promised ought to be effected I was ready in a quarter of an hour though it was then not two a clock after the English account and I but at two Versts distance which indeed according to the proportions of the former day made me suspect as also it proved that by how much I was yet nearer I should come in so much later to Mosco However though I could have wished to have entered by day as indeed it was fitting and might perhaps the third day have succeeded yet out of complacency to his Tzarskoy Majesties good pleasure I took my chance of the night And what I discerned before it was dark of the the Honour his Tzarskoy Majesty intended and did me joyned with those most friendly and cordial Sentiments which I brought along to Him from my Royal Master made me interpret that very obscurity for splendour and that most Serene night which brought me so near his Tzarskoy Majesty was by me preferred before the most Illustrious day that had detained me from Him But whereas it is said that I ought not in that place to have demanded an answer of my being hindered the former day After having first protested that whatsoever I have said above in reference to my self upon the second day hath not been upon any account or obligation that I have or ought of answering any charge accusation or recrimination against me but only out of the desire that I have by all honourable means to retain the good opinion of his Tzarskoy Majesty as being so great a Prince and Friend of the King my Master and which I have neither forfeited yet and may possibly deserve further before my going away unless upon some unhappy interruption from other persons I add next that none but the King my Master knowes what I ought to have done and therefore I desire that all expressions to the contrary may be omitted for the future But if upon promise from so considerable a person as the Diack of the Tzarkoy Cabinet I did
my Master saith he hath one essential Title and which He prizes more than those of all his dominions Defender of the Faith an immemorial indubitable successive Title from his Ancestors and as alwaies heretofore so in His last Letter to his Tzarskoy Majesty He useth it in this Court ever since my coming I think by some inadvertency omitted I desire that in styling his Majesty my Master and in all Letters to Him henceforward it may be inserted according as belongs to Him The nineteenth of March Pronchissof brought to my Lord an answer to his given the 29. of February whereby the Commissioners complain much in the first place that he writ with slighting the honourable orders of his Tzarskoy Majesties forces and with little repute for his Posts Therefore they do not like at all this expression of my Lords where he saies that the nearer one comes to Mosco men are more ignorant of the Roads so that they freely say it was not handsom for him to speak so Moreover they deny the foundation of the Friendship between the two Crowns to be as my Lord said the Grant of the Priviledges but only the mutual Love of both Princes That therefore the Priviledges were taken away by reason of the English Rebellion to his late Majesty and that his present Majesty being in misery his Tzarskoy Majesty comforted Him with Letters and as they are pleased to say furnished him with Bread and Money Whereas His Royal Majesty doth not offer to give their great Lord any assistance against his present Enemies the Pole and the Crim Tartar as had done formerly his Royal Father to his Tzarskoy Majesties Father against Vladislaus King of Poland But besides the wars wherein the Tzar was then engaged and the King 's cold assistance they blame also the English merchants who had lately refused the Tzars Ambassadors in England to lend him money for the war Yet notwithstanding it seemes the Tzar will allow ten English merchants new men such as His Royal Majesty shall think fit to make choice of that should faithfully observe such lawful conditions as should be required of them to drive a free trade after such a time that his Tzarskoy Majesties Warrs cease with John Cassimir King of Poland and the Cham of Crim. Lastly they finde the answer about the Titles to be mighty full of offences and that his Excellency doth much diminish their respect when he saies that they are not fitly grounded Whereas being at Conference with them he called them as they say His Tzarskoy Majesties potent Boyars wise and rightly honourable And that therefore that man is not fit to lay the foundation of things who praises in his words and in his writings dispraises without the truth But as to the first Complaint his Excellency by an answer given in Conference the 22. of March replies that as it is easie to be seen his words are misunderstood and what tended to the honour of all persons that deserve it is by His Commissioners perverted to the slighting of them And whereas they say it was not handsom for him to say that the nearer one comes to Mosco men are more ignorant of the Roads he answers that it seemes they rather undertake to censure him as Judges on the bench than treat with him as Counsellors of his Tzarskoy Majesty That perhaps out of hast to answer his last paper which indeed is a jest put upon them seeing they had been near three weeks about it they had omitted the words As we conceive so that the whole sense would have run thus It was not as we conceive handsome for you to declare At last he still insists upon the satisfaction demanded As for the Reproach which my Lord took very ill of his Tzarskoy Majesties assistance to the King whom their most Wise Prince as they call him furnished with bread his Excellency said he agreed in that with them forasmuch as the Wisest of Princes saith Cast thy bread upon the waters and after many daies thou shalt finde it again as also it hath happened And again he said that only our blessed Saviour could multiply the five loaves That his Majesty hath and will own perpetually that courtesy that he hath in his name declared it and given his thanks in the face of the whole World But this he would minde his Tzarskoy Majesties Boyars and Counsellors that even papers of Obligation are sullied and worn out with too much handling and so is it in regard of the Obligations themselves when men too often repeat their own good actions Concerning the matter of Trade his Excellency tells them that with all becoming thanks for the good intention of his Tzarskoy Majesty he refuses to treat of any such conditions as were in their last proposal having no Commission or Latitude from the King to go less in matter of Trade than the Restitution of the former Priviledges And whereas the Commissioners had pleased to say that his Royal Majesty doth not upon this occasion of wars as his Royal Majesties Father of highly glorious memory who had sent his Collonel Thomas Sanderson with many warlike men to assist his Tzarskoy Majestie Michaelo Phederovich against his Enemy Vladislaus King of Poland his Excellency tells them whether seeing in this and many other expressions they seem to weigh the generous actions of Princes by Salotnicks or ounces they would think it civil in him should he say that his Royal Majesties Father of highly glorious memory lent his Tzarskoy Majesties Father of highly glorious memory besides those men of Sandersons forty thousand Rixdollers and they were repaid even as His present Tzarskoy Majesty lent his present Royal Majesty the same sum and they are repaid And that moreover upon his Tzarskoy Majesties Commission to Sir John Hebdon his present Majestie granted the levying of three thousand horse and foot for his present Tzarskoy Majesty which might have proved as good as either Bread or Treasury and if it were not effected it was not his Royal Majesties fault So that hitherto the obligations are equal As to those offences contained as the Commissioners pretend in the latter part of his Excellencies answer it seemes they fix them all in his saying That they are not well or fitly grounded Which words as oft as they shall have the same occasion to use towards him he doth promise them he shall take it kindly and civilly of them But whereas they say that in Conference with them he called them His Majesties Boyars Velmoshnei wise and rightly honourable his Excellency doth acknowledg that they are indeed wise and rightly honourable but I do not remember saith he that ever I called you Velmoshnei as fearing that it came too near the word Velmoshneshei that is to say most potent one of the proper Titles of his Tzarskoy Majesty Although if according to the custom of this Court it may be given you I shall heartily pay it to you and all other expressions of civility esteem and affection
which your own hearts can wish Though I must complain on mine own part that you should obliquely add that in my writing I dispraise you without truth a word which any man dare use in his own Country and that such a man is not fit to lay the foundation of things Would to God saith he you his Tzarskoy Majesties near Boyars and Counsellors had been pleased to cooperate and labour so plainly and so cordially toward the common good of both Princes as I have done Then how easily might all that your Lordships have said or that I have said in fruitless replies have been spared and much precious time have been saved to cooperate towards his Tzarskoy Majesties affairs Besides this answer my Lord gave in writing â—n another paper several demands of common â—ight and coutesy in the behalf of his Royal Majesties Subjects living in the Tzar's Domiâ—ions as Satisfaction to the English merchants for their old debts and houses That â—ll English merchants desiring to repaire home might have their Passes to go over Sea with â—heir wives and families without molestation That Justice might be done the English merchants for their debts That all his Majesties â—ubjects of whatsoever other condition might upon their desire have full Liberty to return and so he gave the names of those who at that time demanded any Justice or Favour of this nature In this Conference my Lord Ambassador did also intreat his Commissioners that he might have a private Audience of his Tzarskoy Majesty thinking to finde more favour from the Tzar as concerning his most important affaires if he could himself instill into his Majesties ears his strong and solid reasons with the evasions and friendless dealing of the Lords Commissioners But as if they had first resolved to grant nothing at all it was hard enough to my Lord Ambassador to obtain this Audience And when at last they told him of the day appointed for that purpose by his Tzarskoy Majesty they said it was not for any business sake but to compleat their great Lords brotherly love and friendship with his Royal Majesty as if that could be done meerly by seeing the Tzar private My Lord Ambassador finding this answer as much unfit for his business as it is ridiculous made them to understand how Princes in former Age and most in this had and have by such immediate Intercourse occasion fuller to inform themselves of all matters and to remove aâ— obstacles So that upon this reflexion iâ— seemes the Tzar granted his Excellency thâ— liberty to speak of affaires He had this privâ— Audience the 22. of April in the Tzars own Lodging Rooms from ten a clock at night till one of the next morning Then indeed he spoke at length with all the advantage he could desire himself and added to the strength of reasoning the eloquence of the language He refuted as much to the purpose as could be all his Commissioners Objections before alledged whereupon they purposed to ground the Refusal of the Priviledges he represented to his Tzarskoy Majesty how little of solidity there is that they are but weak pretences and that his Royal Majesty must needs be much sensible of this proceeding so contrary to his expectations But to give more weight to the matter he speaks in the Kings own person after he hath made a Preface from himself Of this same Speech there were two Copies given to the Commissioners one in English and the other in Latin as followeth Serenissima atque Potentissima Czarea Majestas QVum decem Septimanae effluxerint ex quo Czarea Vestra Majestas negotiorum meoâ—um curam proximis suis Magnatibus Conâ—liariis delegavit tamen indies ab optato â—egationis nostrae successiâ— me longiùs abesse comperiam coactus sum quod solent Viatores qui Fluminis rapiditatem aut flexum superare nequeunt ad ipsum fontem contendere Quicquid per tam ampla Imperii Vestri spatia sive potestatis sive rationis reperitur à Czareâ Vestrâ Majestate tanquam unica fonte atque origine manat derivatur Et utì omnium Subditorum vestrorum est seipsos suásque sententias Summae Vestrae Potestati subjicere ità neque ego rectissimae vestrae Rationi meipsum totius negotii Nostri judicium permittere recusem Mihi enim videtur Deum Optimum Maximum utì olim Salomoni ità Czareae vestrae Majestati non solùm divitias atque honores sed sapientiam quoque prudentiam largitum ut neque ex Augustissimis vestris Majoribus ullus cum Czareâ vestrâ Majestate possit comparari neque Vestri similis in posterum aliquando possit exoriri Hinc est quod à Czareâ vestrâ Majestate secretò hodie audiri petierim impetraverim Ità etiam magnus ille Johannes Basilii qui primus fundamenta jecit amicitiae inter Angliae Russiae Coronas Privilegia illa mercatoribus Anglis concessit ità Ille remotus arbitris cum Legatis Regum Reginarum Angliae agere familiarius colloqui solebat adeóque Consiliariis quibusdam suis Domino Cancellario frustrà renitentibus tam certas rerum suarum mensuras iniit ut ab illo tempore usque ad Czareae vestrae Majestatis regni initia aut ad hunc diem nemo mutuam illam amicitiam inter Vtrasque Coronas Nationes convellere aut labefactare potuerit Et ego qui eandem materiam animo non minù sincero inter Principes majorem etiam affectum mutuò profitentes pertracto non dubito quin ipse bono cum Deo à Clarissimis Czareae vestrae Majestatis oculis cum eodem optato Legationis nostrae fructu sim dimittendus Quum enim caeteri omnes potentissimi Europae Principes nullo nuncio à Serenissimâ suâ Majestate accepto curaverint ut Legationibus Extraordinariis gratulabundi Regiam suam Majestatem in Regna sua redeuntem certatim prosequerentur Regia sua Majestas pro singulari suâ benevolentiâ atque erga Czaream vestram Majestatem affectu ad Czaream vestram Majestatem solam ex omnibus Principibus Christianis prior literas dedit 10 mo Maji Anno 1661. ante Legatorum vestrorum adventum Quibus Czaream vestram Majestatem de laetissimo suo reditu certiorem fecit simul de Czareâ Vestrâ in rebus suis adversis fraternâ benevolentiâ gratias egit Iisdem etiam literis significavit se Johanni Hebdon Equiti aurato tametsi nullas ad Regiam suam Majestatem à Czareâ vestrâ Majestate literas quas vocant Credentiales pertulisset eâ tamen fi duciâ quam etiam in eodem Hebdeno Czaream vestram Majestatem reponere credebat indulsisse ei petenti ut tria millia equitum peditum sub Ducibus probatae fidei virtutis pro Czareâ vestrâ Majestate in regnis suis conscriberet Illud in super addidit se Czareae vestrae Majestatis inimicis Regiorum s orum Ministrorum interventu significaturum quam
time from my Predecessors They discovered the port and opened you the Trade and Market of all Europe at Archangel They fought your Enemies ships in the Eastern-seas when the Princes there adjacent had leagued together to shut up the Narve and delivered the prisoners to the Russian Governours at the Narve They lent summs of mony for the wars they furnished Souldiers and Commanders to fight your Enemies they made peace for you with neighbour Princes They suffered the Merchants to supply the Country in the times of great dearth with corn who sold it to the Nation â—t the rate it cost them and several other things to be transported hither for your accommodation in peace or warr prohibited to all other Nations I could mention yet an higher Obligation than all these upon the desire of one of your Tzarskoy Ancestors were it so seasonable to relate it And I my self who ordered my Ambassador to tell You that herein I desired to exceed all my Ancestors yet am refused the Privileges the purchase of my Subjects industry and their vast expense and great losses in finding out and carrying on the Trade to this present I my self at my first coming to the Crown granted to Sir John Hebdon without Credentials three thousand horse and foot of the flower of the English forces for Your service which what they can do and are let the world witness And had your Ambassadors either demanded any thing of me but an unproportionable and unseasonable summe of mony or had they but acquainted me with the posture of your Tzarskoy majesties affaires in any measure You should not have found me wanting However before I sent my Ambassador over I did my best to inform my self otherwise I found that the Pole was likely still to molest You and that notwithstanding the late Peace with Sweden some points remained yet undecided Reflecting upon which I thought for the reasons Your Majestie knowes as concerning the Pole that he would not think me a competent Mediator betwixt You seeing besides that the King of Poland only hath not yet sent me any Ambassage to congratulate my happy Return For the Swede I saw no reason why mine interposition betwixt your Tzarskoy majesty and Him might not be acceptable and seasonable on all sides if your Tzarskoy majesty â—hought it necessary to quench any parks of contention before they broke â—ut further Moreover I consider the opportunity that I have and shall always of assisting You with Commanders and Souldiers ships armour and ammunition against any Enemies You might have for the future and the influence and authority that I should have from time to time with most Princes of Europe or out of Europe that could annoy You for the composing of any differences And upon all these things I had given such order as I thought fitting to my Ambassador And doubtless considering mine own Obligations to your Tzarskoy majesty and the promise I had made You in mine own Letter formerly which I took my self bound to accomplish and the choice of the person of my Ambassador You would not have found me ungrateful in any thing of this or other nature which could not occurre to me Having represented these words as from his Royal majesties own mouth to your Tzarskoy majesty it becomes me not to continue them with any of mine own further than to desire that your Tzarskoy majesty will seriously and speedily according to your great prudence wherewith God hath inspired You reflect upon them and give me a quick dispatch one way or other that I may not lose the very first season of the year to depart hence as his Royal majesty hath given me positive order Given at Mosco 22. April 1664. CARLISLE This speech being thus ended my Lord Ambassador added four Memorials which he gave also in writing but in a paper by it self Three of them were against Pronchissof who endeavoured by all meanes to obstruct my Lords affaires and to make him odious to this Court. It seemes he had told my Lord that his Royal Majesties affaires were in a dangerous and weak condition so that my Lord being confident that he had strove to instil this false report into the Tzars ear thought himselfe bound upon this occasion to inform his Tzarskoy Majesty that what he said therein was contrary to the truth and maliciously invented by Enemies of his Royal Majesty and that the King was in as good condition of quiet at home and power abroad as any Prince in Christendom Another time the same Pronchissof told my Lord Ambassador at his house in the presence of Dementè Bashmacof and of a Colonel van Staden their Interpreter that it was reported his Excellency had received a great summe of mony of the Merchants to recover the Privileges and upon the effecting thereof was to receive yet greater from the said Merchants whereupon my Lord requiring his author he would or could name none so that his Excellency took him for the Author himself as it was very likely Therefore upon this occasion he acquainted the Tzar with it and desired his Majesty to cause Reparation to be given him by the said Pronchissof for so malicious and high a slander Besides the said Pronchissof at several other times spoke to my Lord Ambassador as if he had neglected his Royal Majesties business in respect to the Merchants and threatned him with the Tzars displeasure that he should not depart with honour and as if his Tzarskoy Majesty would complain of his conduct to his Royal Majesty whose instructions he said that my Lord had transgressed In all which things he much diminished the respect due to his Excellency and doubtless exceeded any Commission from his Tzarskoy Majesty My Lord did not neglect to informe his Majesty of all these things upon this present occasion and to tell Him that for these and for the former reasons he takes the said Pronchissof who was at this Audience to be an Enemy to the good correspondence betwixt his Royal Majesty and his Tzarskoy Majesty and consequently no Friend to himself And that therefore whatsoever he might have reported at any time or would afterwards concerning him to give his Tzarskoy Majesty as he had all reason to suspect an ill taste and impression of him He desires his Tzarskoy Majesty to hold it for falshood as he himself was ready to prove it if his Majesty had thought fit at any time to communicate any such thing to him for his own satisfaction He put moreover his Tzarskoy Majesty in minde of the former Reparation promised which still his Commissioners had neglected hitherto The 24. of May my Lord received his Commissioners answer to his papers given at Conference the 22. of March wherein first they blame his Excellency for saying in the beginning that they misunderstood his words as if he had a mind thereby to tell them that they were not able to understand his meaning But for the Posts innocent mistake as they call it they say that
satisfaction is given heretofore They do not like at all this expression of my Lords where he saies that they seeme to weigh the generous actions of Princes by Salotnicks As to the several Demands contained in another paper none but the second demand had a satisfactory answer The demand is this that all English Merchants desiring to repair home might have their passes to go over sea with their wives and families without any molestation But it is frustrated by reason of the next following article that justice might be done the English Merchants for their debts for of this there was no care at all taken The next demand to that which is of a great moment and much against the custome of Russia that all his Royal Majesties Subjects of what condition soever might upon their desire have full liberty to return is left without an answer Now concerning some particular subjects of the Kings who looked for the Tzars favour or justice upon this occasion by my Lord Ambassador they were all either rejected or put off The 27. of May the Commissioners sent to my Lord Ambassador their Answer to his Speech said at the private Audience the 22. of April but as to his Complaints against Pronchissof who as in spight of his Excellency was still in his Pristafs office there was not one word said to that nor to the other Memorial And indeed they might as well have left the speech unanswered seing their writings signify no more than their silence For as heretofore so concerning this speech that perhaps might have had any where else a favourable answer they say amongst many words very litle or noting to the purpose Their whole business it seemes is to catch at some expressions which interpreting alwaies to their disadvantage they take thereby occasion to give his Tzarskoy Majesty an ill tast of his Excellency and so to obstruct his business To that purpose they alledge first that in a place of his speech he calles them persons of great wisdom and experience whereas there is of great nobility and experience and that in another place he writes as if they could not shew in all their answers one certain or solid reason for the denyal of the propounded Privileges They do extreamly wonder at such an expression and that being a man of great understanding he would sometimes praise them which they take in very good part and sometimes vilify them But whereas my Lord saies in another place of his Speech That he received from his Commissioners so unexpected an answer that had Heaven fallen as the windows of the Councel-Chamber broke in twice at the recital it could scarce have been more strange or miraculous to him they are pleased to say that it was not fitting for him to speak so to his Tzarskoy Majesty But here is the grand scandalous and unhandsome expression as they take it that stickt to the Tzars very heart when his Excellency speaking as from the Kings Majesties own mouth concerning that unproportionable sum of money that his Tzarskoy Majesties Ambassadors demanded of his Royal Majesty in England said I hope so impossible a sum to the greatest Prince of Christendom was not demanded on purpose to have a pretext to deny the Priviledges and by proposing an impossibility to refuse what is rational The Commissioners answered that this unhandsome expression was an indignity not only to the friendship between both Princes but chiefly to the person of his Tzarskoy Majesty that such a Declaration was far from his Royal Majesties meaning and that therefore their Great Lord would write about it to the King As for the Priviledges they put them off till the wars be put to an end and then the Merchants must stand upon the Tzars courtesie Lastly his Tzarskoy Majesty doth indeed acknowledg the Kings affection to him where it is spoken of those fit opportunities that his Royal Majesty had and might have afterwards of assisting Him upon all occasions of War The Commissioners said that their Great Lord received these Declarations of the Kings in brotherly friendly amity and love Therefore they desired my Lord Ambassador to declare them against which of his Tzarskoy Majesties Enemies his Royal Majesty would assist their Great Lord and whether with warlike men and ammunition and if so with how many warlike men and armes and with what ammunition and whether his Royal Majesty would give this Assistance out of his own Treasury and for what time and to what place these his Majesties men were to come To that my Lord Ambassador gave them this answer that in all these things he was not at all limited but that they were left at his own best discretion provided first that his Tzarskoy Majesty would shew a just value of his Royal Majesties constant brotherly love and friendship But what concernes the propounded Mediation betwixt the Tzar and his Majesty of Sweden it was answered by the Commissioners that there was an Everlasting Peace concluded between Them and that those things that fell out after the Conclusion might be quieted by Messages on both sides As to the Additional Memorials presented to the Tzars Majesty against Pronchissof my Lord had at last an answer after a long sollicitation but it was too much like their Reparation about the miscarriage of our Entrance at Mosco They said that my Lord ought not to complain against him that whatsoever he was told by him in familiar discourses it was not out of malignity but after a friendly way so that his Excellency might take care of himself and of his affaires As to the Reparation promised upon his Entrance at Mosco they do not so much as speak one word of it And now to put an end to a Negotiation where so much is said and so little effected I shall add another important business that passed betwixt his Excellency and his Commissioners My Lord having newly received power and authority from the King to offer his Mediation betwixt the Tzars Majesty and the King of Poland thought that so kind an offer might perhaps bring his business to a better end than he had done hitherto He acquainted his Commissioners with it and offered himself to do his uttermost in prosecution of that affair in what manner his Tzarskoy Majesty should direct for his Service Provided that He would first manifest a just value of his Royal Majesties most sincere and constant brotherly affection by the grant of his former demands The offer did please them very well because it came in very good time but the condition annexed was too hard seeing they had doubtless resolved not to grant the Priviledges Yet they desired my Lord Ambassador to give this matter in writing at a Conference which they agreed upon to be had the first of June and the mean while the Tzar appointed for that purpose new Commissioners to treat of this matter that newly was come in hand So that at last his Excellency was rid from Pronchissof whom the Tzar had still
employed a great while when He sent any message to my Lord Ambassador notwithstanding the solemn Declaration made against him at the private Audience and in his stead there was another supplied for a Pristaf who was indeed a civiller man but of lesser quality The Proposition given by my Lord in writing at this Conference was written after this manner HIs most Serene Majesty my Master desiring to fulfil all parts of a most sincere brotherly affection toward his most Serene Tzarskoy Majesty according to His promise in his former Royal Letters and by me his extraordinary Ambassador taking into consideration the present war continued betwixt his Tzarskoy Majesty and the King of Poland to the so great detriment of the Common Christian Interest hath therefore although He knowes that his Tzarskoy Majesty doth neither want sufficient forces nor most prudent counsels whereby He may probably bring that war to a conclusion yet for the better facilitating of a firme and honourable peace betwixt his Tzarskoy Majesty and the King of Poland Impowred me if it may be acceptable and desirable to his Tzarskoy Majesty to offer his Mediation toward so good a work and hath therefore laid aside all respects to the contrary believing that so laudable a design will so much the rather find with his Majesty of Poland all effect and acceptance And this being but as an earnest of all those other counsels and good offices which his Tzarskoy Majesty may promise Himself continually from his Royal Majesty I do no ways doubt but his Tzarskoy Majesty will manifest a just value of his Royal Majesties most sincere constant brotherly affection Vnto which I shall always strive to be in my place instrumental according to my duty to his Royal Majesty and my great devotion towards the service of his Tzarskoy Majesty so great a Prince and so dear a Friend and Brother of his Royal Majesty Given at Mosco 1. June 1664. The Commissioners Answer to this matter was that his Tzarskoy Majesty was well pleased with this profer of his Royal Majesty that his Excellency in prosecution thereof should send a Post to his Majesty of Poland by way of Smolensco and proceed himself in the business as might be meet and fitting But it seemes they did not or would not mind what his Excellency had required before he would ingage his Prince in so long and chargeable a designe Therefore he made them understand that otherwise he could not undertake it because his Royal Majesty took it for granted that he had before this effected his business which was the reason of this His last generous profer The Commissioners postposing any thing to the Customes taken and the English Merchants my Lord took occasion to give over his Profer and to take his Leave of the Tzar having left into the hands of his Tzarskoy Majesties near Boyars and Counsellors some Memorials of remaining business besides that point which he most insisted upon that in time they might be redressed The 24. of June He had his last Audience where he took his Leave of his Majesty in few words Most Serene and most Potent Tzar THe King my Master hath commanded me to make hast from hence about his other affaires committed to me and since your Tzarskoy Majesty hath not been pleased to grant what I was sent for the greatest Kindness You can shew the King my Master and the greatest favour to my self is the allowing me this liberty of taking my leave of your Majesty and permitting me to depart with speed I have nothing to desire of your Tzarskoy Majesty at parting but that as is due and right there may be the same liberty to all other his Majesties Subjects whensoever the respective time of their Obligations shall be expired and that to those who must in the mean time remain speedy and equal justice may be afforded which hath not been hitherto I return my thanks for the plentiful enâ—ertainment I have had in your Country 〈◊〉 shall very truly give the King an acâ—ount of all the honours and favours I â—ave received and with the same â—uth and candor give an account of all â—hings that have passed in my Negotiaâ—ion and shall pray to God to bless your Majesty with a long and happy Government Whereupon the Tzar being on his Throne desired the Ambassador to salute his Brother the King of great Brittaine and delivered the Letter he sent him with his own hand He pretended to be much troubled that the State of his affaires would not permit him to comply with his desires and prayed God for the prosperity of his Voiage Upon which his Excellence kist his hand as did likewise all his Gentlemen after him and being returned they brought him his dinner from the Palace This being the Negociation and success of the Embassie let us now take a prospect of the most memorable passages that hapned during our residence at Mosco The first thing that presents it self is the description of a Feast which the Tzar made to my Lord Ambassador the 19. of February in the hall wherein his Excellence had Audience it was a meale of near nine houres long from two in the afternoon till eleven at night My Lord Ambassador was conducted thither very solemnly but being entred into the hall the Tzar who was sitting upon his Throne forgot not to retain his ordinary gravity and though he had not then his Crown upon his head he thought it too great a condescention for a person of his grandeur to vaile his bonnet to the Ambassador From whence it may be easiely conjectured that his Excellence was not admitted to his table and indeed it was so farr from that that he was plac't at another on his left hand some steps lower than his own whilst his principal Boyars had not only their table on his right hand but at a less distance from his Throne In so much as in that place where my Lord Ambassador ought to have received all honor and civility there it was that they studied as it were to treat him disobligingly He was seated alone on one side next the wall and on the other there was one of the Tzars Councelors and a Stolnick to bear him Company In a direct line and near his table they plac't my Lord Morpeth and with him by express order from the Tzar not only the Gentlemen and Pages but the Footmen also it being his pleasure to regale us altogether Assoon as every one was sate his Tzarskoy Majesty uncoâ—ered himself and put not on his grave â—onnet of black fox again till we went away â—o that he continued bare as we did though is hair was so short that one of our Company â—ook occasion to say he wondered so great 〈◊〉 Monarch should want hair to cover his â—ars But in my judgment we had more reaâ—n to wonder when we saw that we had no â—apkins and that the Table-cloth was no â—ider than the Table In the mean time â—r meat not being
and had a continual free Cabal of Dutch Spyes upon the Embassador while before the first audience none were suffered to enter to the Embassador and alwaies after the admittance very severe some examined others repulst others beaten might be removed specially seeing the Lodging was so strait that Almaz Evanof the Posolskoy Diack and one of the Commissioners said it was good for the English Gentlemen to ly close together lest the Rats should run away with them and the Dutch openly bragging that he should continue there in spight of the Ambassador the said Doomnoy Dvoranin as being the Ambassadors Pristaf being often urged to effect it did either neglect or hinder it so that he continued there at pleasure Also the said Doomnoy Dvoranin telling the Embassador one day that the King of Poland had sent a Messenger to his Tzarskoy Majesty to beg the mercy and grace of his Tzarskoy Majesty to grant him peace and the Embassador replying that those were terms which the most subjugated Princes did never descend to but that he was glad to hear his Tzarskoy Majesties affairs were in so good a posture the said Doomnoy Dvoranin went forthwith and acquainted his Tzarskoy Majesty with the first part of the Embassadors reply but so disguised and with so ill a gloss that he thereby incensed his Tzarskoy Majesty highly against the Embassador Beside his Tzarkoy Majesty having as is said done the Ambassador the honour to invite him to see the Solemnities of Palm-Sunday the said Pronchissof afterwards asking the Ambassador how he liked it and the Ambassador witnessing his satisfaction in so venerable a Ceremony the said Doomnoy Dvoranin went strait to his Tzarskoy Majesty and told him the Ambassador said it was a pretty Comedy which also displeased his Tzarskoy Majesty as good reason Whereas the Doomnoy Dvoranin himself only used those words to the Ambassador asking him if it were not a pretty Comedy Also the Embassador discoursing with the said Doomnoy Dvoranin concerning Tzar Evan Basiliwich and his desire and progress toward a marriage with a Lady of the blood Royal of England he most irreverently as to both Princes replied that the said Tzar Evan Basilowich had many such women speaking it in a very ill sense Moreover the said Doomnoy Dvoranin took occasion several times to vilify the Present sent by his Royal Majesty to his Tzarskoy Majesty in the presence of the said Embassador and to say that when he saw the Tin shine he was in good hopes it had been Silver But of these things the Embassador never spoke at any time till upon this forcible occasion of his own vindication But the said Doomnoy Duoranin having spoke dishonorably and fasly concerning the posture of His Royal Majesties affairs and telling him to his face as if he were a Posoulnick or agent of the Muscovia company and having told the Embassador that he neglected his Majesties affairs in respect of the Merchants and threatning him with his Tzarskoy Majesties displeasure and that His Tzarskoy Majesty would complain of him to his Royal Majesty as if he had transgressed his instructions which certainly the Doomnoy Duoranin was never acquainted with by the Embassador he charged him therewith before his Tzarskoy Majesty The success it seems of that private Audience was this The Embassador having together with the Enlish Copy subscribed given in a Latin Copy translated as near as possible but not subscribed but by his Secretary having only prepared it to save time and as an help to their Russ translation because one of the Commissioners Golozof understood Latin this Golozof was imployed several daies to the Embassador to perswade him subscribe â—he Latin translation also This Golozof pressed under that colour and pretext that so many things being said therein to the honour of His Tzarskoy Majesty and of his Royal Majesties affection toward Him so that it was most fit to continue upon Record this also being subscribed it would be so much the stronger and as under two witnesses But the Ambassador refused as not being his own language Yet at last though he guest at the true reason to give His Tzarskoy Majesty that satisfaction he subscribed it with this addition Except any difference with the English which 〈◊〉 soon as they had obtained they discovered forthwith their true intention First they complain as if he had spoke with dis-respect of Tzar Ivan Basilovich where he saith That first and great Founder of the Amity betwixt the English and Russian Crowns and of the Privileges to the English Nation Tzar Ivan Basilovich because he added not all his other Titles and they required the Ambassador should alter that expression accordingly which how reasonable soever he did Though the Commissioners nevertheless the private Audience having been upon the twenty second of April gave to the Embassador a paper of the twenty fourth of May wherein they named the late King only King Charles and his present Majesties former Embassador the Lord Culpepper the messenger William Culpepper Which horrid and probably wilful mistake they would never alter till the Embassador had taken his last leave of His Tzarskoy Majesty Then they as now the Ambassadors accuse him for an expression concerning the falling in of the Windows at their first abrupt refusal of the Privileges which notwithstanding was very true And whereas they then and now the Ambassadors lay much load upon an Expression about the loan of ten thousand pood of Silver desired by Knez Peoter Semonovich as if the Embassador therein offered an indignity to His Tzarskoy Majesty an indignity to the friendship betwixt both Princes transgressed His Instructions and his Tzarskoy Majesty would as he hath now done complain thereof to His Royal Majesty the Embassador did then only speak in His Royal Majesties person I hope that such a sum was not desired for such an end c. And His Royal Majesty doth still hope so Then as to the Doomnoy Duoranin notwithstanding so just and high a complaint prefer'd against him he was the man chosen to come next from His Tzarskoy Majesty to enquire of the Ambassadors health and was so imployed for many days as afore At last indeed there was another Pristaf appointed in his place truly a much civiler person but of lesser quality which is the present Ambassador of His Tzarskoy Majesty But it was signified from His Tzarskoy Maj ty by Gregory Cosmevich the other Pristaf to the Embassador that this removal was upon the Doomnoy Duoranins own desire to be dismist Also no Reparation was given the said Embassador against the Doomnoy Duoranin but in a paper afterwards delivered he was justified in all these enormities and the Ambassador accused that after all these provocations and the charge given up against him to His Tzarskoy Majesty the Embassador would not as formerly discourse with him of affairs of the Embassy as if he had there in affronted the said Doomnoy Duoranin Concerning the Entry nothing of Reparation would be given The Embassador had