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was his danger, that they durft not. So arming him felf and his followers in the beft wife he could, againft any outrage, he at length recovered the fhore of St. Nicholas. Where he now refolved to fend them back by his conduct fome of the affronts which he had received. Ready therefore to take fhip, he caufes three or four of his valianteft and difcreeteft men to take the emperor's letter, and difgraceful prefent, and to deliver it, or leave it at the lodging of his convoy, which they fafely did; though followed with a great tumult of such as would have forced them to take it back.

Fifteen hundred and eighty four. At the coronation of Pheodor the emperor, Jerom Horfey being then agent in Ruffia, and called for to court with one John de Wale, a merchant of the Netherlands and a fubject of Spain, fome of the nobles would have preferred the Fleming before the English. But to that our agent would in no cafe agree, faying he would rather have his legs cut off by the knees, than bring his prefent in course after a subject of Spain. The emperor and prince Boris perceiving the controverfy, gave order to admit Horfey firft: who was difmiffed with large promifes, and feventy meffes with three carts of feveral meath fent after him.

Fifteen hundred and eighty eight. Dr. Giles Fletcher went embaffador from the queen to Pheodor then emperor; whofe relations being judicious and exact are beft read entirely by themfelves. *This emperor,

upon report of the great learning of John Dee the mathematician, invited him to Mofco, with offer of two thousand pounds a year, and from prince Boris one thousand marks; to have his provifion from the emperor's table, to be honourably received, and accounted as one of the chief men in the land. All which Dee accepted

not.

One thousand fix hundred and four. Sir Thomas Smith was fent embaffador from king James to Boris then emperor; and ftaid fome days at a place five m les from Mofco, till he was honourably received into the city;

* Hack. 508.

met

met on horfeback by many thousands of gentlemen' and nobles on both fides the way; where the embaffador alighting from his coach, and mounted on his horfe, rode with his trumpets founding before him; till a gentleman of the emperor's ftable brought him a gennet gorgeoufly trapped with gold, pearl, and stone, efpecially with a great chain of plated gold about his neck, and horfes richly adorned for his followers. Then came three great noblemen with an interpreter offering a fpeech; but the embaffador deeming it to be ceremony, with a brief compliment found means to put it by. Thus alighting all, they faluted, and gave hands mutually. Those three, after a tedious preamble of the emperor's title thrice repeated, brought a feveral compli ment of three words apiece, as namely, the first, To know how the king did; the next, how the embaffador; the third, that there was a fair houfe provided him. Then on they went on either hand of the embaffador, and about fix thousand gallants behind them; still met within the city by more of greater quality to the very gate of his lodging: where fifty gunners were his daily guard both at home and abroad. The preftaves, or gentlemen affigned to have the care of his entertainment, were earneft to have had the embaffador's fpeech and meffage given them in writing, that the interpreter, as they pretended, might the better tranflate it; but he admonished them of their foolish demand. On the day On the day of his audience, other gennets were fent him and his attendants to ride on, and two white palfreys to draw a rich chariot, which was parcel of the prefent; the reft whereof was carried by his followers through a lane of the emperor's guard; many meffengers pofting up and down the while, till they came through the great castle, to the uttermoft court gate. There met by a great duke, they were brought up ftairs through a ftone gallery, where ftood on each hand many in fair coats of Perfian ftuff, velvet and damafk. The embaffador by two other counfellors being led into the prefence, after his obeifance done, was to stay and hear again the long title repeated; then the particular prefents; and fo delivered as much of his embaffage as was then requifite. After

* 4

which

which the emperor, arifing from his throne, demanded of the king's health; fo did the young prince. The embaffador then delivered his letters into the emperor's own hand, though the chancellor offered to have taken them. He bore the majesty of a mighty emperor; his crown and fceptre of pure gold, a collar of pearls about his neck, his garment of crimson velvet embroidered with precious ftone and gold. On his right fide ftood a fair globe of beaten gold on a pyramis with a crofs upon it; to which, before he fpake, turning a little he croffed himself. Not much lefs in fplendour on another throne fate the prince. By the emperor ftood two noblemen in cloth of filver, high caps of black fur, and chains of gold hanging to their feet; on their fhoulders two poleaxes of gold; and two of filver by the prince; the ground was all covered with arras or tapestry. Difmiffed, and brought in again to dinner, they faw the emperor and his fon feated in ftate, ready to dine; each with a skull of pearl on their bare heads, their vestments changed. In the midft of this hall feemed to stand a pillar heaped round to a great height with maffy plate curiously wrought with beafts, fishes, and fowl. The emperor's table was ferved with two hundred noblemen in coats of gold; the prince's table with young dukes of Cafan, Aftracan, Siberia, Tartaria, and Circaffia. The emperor fent from his table to the embaffador thirty dishes of meat, to each a loaf of extraordinary fine bread. Then followed a number more of strange and rare dishes piled up by half dozens, with boiled, roaft, and baked, most part of them besauced with garlic and onions. In midst of dinner calling the embaffador up to him he drank the king's health, who receiving it from his hand, returned to his place, and in the fame cup, being of fair chrystal, pledged it with all his company. After dinner they were called up to drink of excellent and ftrong meath from the emperor's hand; of which when many did but fip, he urged it not; faying he was beft pleased with what was most for their health. Yet after that, the fame day he fent a great and glorious duke, one of them that held the golden poleaxe, with his retinue, and fundry forts of meath, to drink merrily with the embaffador,

which fom of the English did, until the duke and his followers, lightheaded, but well rewarded with thirty yards of cloth of gold, and two ftanding cups, departed. At fecond audience the embaffador had like reception as before and being difmiffed, had dinner fent after him with three hundred feveral difhes of fifh, it being Lent, of fuch ftraugenefs, greatnefs, and goodness, as fcarce would be credible to report. The embaffador departing was brought a mile out of the city with like honour as he was firft met; where lighting from the emperor's fled, he took him to his coach, made faft upon a fled; the reft to their fleds, an eafy and pleafant paffage.

Names of the Authors from whence these Relations have been taken; being all either Eyewitnefjes, or immediate Relaters from fuch as were.

THE journal of Sir Hugh Willoughby.

Difcourfe of Richard Chancelor.

Another of Clement Adams, taken from the mouth of Chancelor.

Notes of Richard Johnson, servant to Chancelor.

The Protonotaries Register.

Two Letters of Mr. Hen. Lane.

Several voyages of Jenkinson.

Southam and Sparks.

The journal of Randolf the embaffador.

Another of Sir Jerom Bowes.

The coronation of Pheodor, written by Jerom Horfey,

Gourdon of Hull's voyage to Pechora.

The voyage of William Purfglove to Pechora.

Of Jofias Logan.

Heffel Gerardus, out of Purchas, part 3, 1. 3
Ruffian relations in Purch. 797. ibid. 806. ibid.
The embaffage of Sir Thomas Smith.

Papers of Mr. Hackluit.

Janfonius.

A DECLA.

DECLARATION,

OR,

LETTERS PATENTS

For the Election of this prefent

King of POLAND JOHN the Third,

Elected on the 22d of May laft paft, Anno Dom. 1674.

CONTAINING

The Reasons of this Election, the great Virtues and Merits of the faid Serene Elect, his eminent fervices in war, especially in his laft great victory against the Turks and Tartars, whereof many particulars are here related, not published before.

Now faithfully tranflated from the Latin Copy.

In the name of the most Holy and Individual Trinity, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. 1

WE

E Andrew Trezebicki, bishop of Cracovia, duke of 1. Severia, John Gembicki of Uladiflau and Pomerania, &c.; bishops to the number of ten.

ra Stanislaus Warzycki, Caftellan of Cracovia; Alexander Michael Lubomirfki of Cracovia, &c.; palatines to the number of twenty three.

Chriftophenus Grzymaltoufki of Pofnania, Alexander Gratus de Tarnow of Sandimer; Caftellans to the number of twenty four.

Hiraleus Polubinfki, high marshal of the great dukedom of Lithuania, Chriftopherus Pac, high chancellor of the great dukedom of Lithuania, fenators and great officers, to the number of feventy five.

WE

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