The Principal Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques, and Discoveries of The English Nation, vol 4 | Page 7

selfe) was conueyed into an office where
one of the chancellors doeth vse to sit, being there accompanied with
the two foresayd gentlemen: I taried two long houres before I was sent
for to the Emperor. In the end message being brought that the
Emperour was set, I was conueyed by my gentlemen vp a paire of
staires thorow a large roome, where sate by my estimation 300 persons,
all in rich attire, taken out of the Emperors wardrobe for that day, vpon
three ranks of benches, set round about the place, rather to present a
maiestie, then that they were either of quality or honor.
[Sidenote: His admission to the Emperors presence.] At the first entry
into the chamber I with my cap gaue them the reuerence, such as I
iudged, their stately sitting, graue countenances and sumptuous apparell
required, and seeing that it was not answered againe of any of them I
couered my head, and so passing to a chamber where the Emperor was,
there receiued me at the doore from my two gentlemen or gouernors,
two of the Emperors counsellors, and shewed me to the Emperor, and
brought me to the middle of the chamber, where I was willed to stand
still, and to say that which I had to say. I by my Interpretor opened my
message as I receiued it from the Queene my Mistresse, from whom I
came, at whose name the Emperor stood vp, and demanded diuers
questions of her health and state: whereunto answere being made, he
gaue me his hand in token of my welcome, and caused me to sit downe,
and further asked me diuers questions.
[Sidenote: The Queenes present.] This done, I deliuered her Maiesties
present, which was a notable great Cup of siluer curiously wrought,
with verses grauen in it, expressing the histories workmanly set out in
the same.
[Sidenote: The Emperors speech to the Ambassadour.] All being sayd
and done (as appeared) to his contentment, he licenced me and my
whole company to depart, who were all in his presence, and were
saluted by him with a nod of his head, and sayd vnto me: I dine not this
day openly for great affaires I haue, but I will send thee my dinner, and
giue leaue to thee and thine to go at liberty, and augment our allowance
to thee, in token of our loue and fauor to our sister the Queene of

England.
I with reuerence tooke my leaue, being conueyed by two other of
greater calling then those that brought me to the Emperors sight, who
deliuered me to the two first gentlemen, who conducted me to the
office where I first was, where came vnto me one called the Long duke,
with whom I conferred a while, and so returned to my lodging.
Within one houre after in comes to my lodging a duke richly apparelled,
accompanied with fiftie persons, ech of them carying a siluer dish with
meat, and couered with siluer. The duke first deliuered twenty loaues of
bread of the Emperors owne eating, hauing tasted the same, and
deliuered eury dish into my hands, and tasted of euery kinde of drinke
that he brought.
This being donel the duke and his company sate downe with me, and
tooke part of the Emperors meat, and filled themselues well of all sorts,
and went not away from me vnrewarded.
Within few nights after the Emperour had will to speake secretly with
me, and sent for me in the night by the Long duke: the place was farre
off, and the night colde; and I hauing changed my apparell into such as
the Russes do weare, found great incommoditie thereby.
[Sidenote: A second conference with the Emperor.] Hauing talked with
him aboue three houres, towards the morning I was dismissed, and so
came home to my lodging, where I remained aboue six weeks after,
before I heard againe from the Emperour, who went the next day to
Slouoda, the house of his solace. After the end of which sixe weeks,
which was about the beginning of April, the Emperour returned from
Slouoda aforesayd, and sent for me againe to make repaire vnto him.
And being come, I dealt effectually with him in the behalfe of our
English merchants, and found him so graciously inclined towards them,
that I obtained at his hands my whole demands for large priuileges in
generall, together with all the rest my particular requests. [Sidenote:
Andrew Sauin Ambassadour to the Queene.] And then he commended
to my conduct into England, a noble man of his, called Andrew Sauin,
as his Ambassadour, for the better confirmation of his priuileges

granted, and other negotiations with her Maiesty. And thus being
dispatched with full contentment, the sayd Ambassadour and my selfe
departed, and imbarked