RICHARD CHANCELOR ad. 



1553- 

 they (being in great feare, as men halfe dead) prostrated 



themselves before him, offering to kisse his feete : but hee 

 (according to his great and singular courtesie,) looked 

 pleasantly upon them, comforting them by signes and 

 gestures, refusing those dueties and reverences of theirs, 

 and taking them up in all loving sort from the ground. 

 And it is strange to consider howe much favour after- 

 wards in that place, this humanitie of his did purchase to 

 himselfe. For they being dismissed spread by and by a 

 report abroad of the arrivall of a strange nation, of a 

 singular gentlenesse and courtesie : whereupon the com- 

 mon people came together offering to these newe-come 

 ghests victuals freely, and not refusing to traffique with 

 them, except they had bene bound by a certaine religious 

 use and custome, not to buy any forreine commodities, 

 without the knowledge and consent of the king. 



By this time our men had learned that this Countrey The discoverie 

 was called Russia, or Moscovie, and that Ivan Vasiliwich °f Russta - 

 (which was at that time their Kings name) ruled and 

 governed farre and wide in those places. And the bar- 

 barous Russes asked likewise of our men whence they 

 were, and what they came for : whereunto answere was 

 made, that they were Englishmen sent into those coastes, 

 from the most excellent King Edward the sixt, having 

 from him in commandement certaine things to deliver to 

 their King, and seeking nothing els but his amitie and 

 friendship, and traffique with his people, whereby they 

 doubted not, but that great commoditie and profit would 

 grow to the subjects of both kingdomes. 



The Barbarians heard these things very gladly, and [I. 247.] 

 promised their aide and furtherance to acquaint their king 

 out of hand with so honest and a reasonable request. 



In the meane time Master Chanceler intreated victuals 

 for his money of the governour of that place (who 

 together with others came aboord him) and required 

 hostages of them likewise for the more assurance of 

 safetie to himselfe and his company. To whom the 

 Governours answered, that they knewe not in that case 



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