ad. THE ENGLISH VOYAGES 



1553- 



the will of their king, but yet were willing in such things 



as they might lawfully doe, to pleasure him : which was 



as then to affoord him the benefit of victuals. 



Nowe while these things were a doing, they secretly 

 sent a messenger unto the Emperour, to certifie him of 

 the arrivall of a strange nation, and withall to knowe his 

 pleasure concerning them. Which message was very 

 welcome unto him, insomuch that voluntarily hee invited 

 them to come to his Court. But if by reason of the 

 tediousnesse of so long a journey, they thought it not 

 best so to doe, then hee graunted libertie to his subjects 

 to bargaine, and to traffique with them : and further 

 promised, that if it would please them to come to him, 

 hee himselfe would beare the whole charges of poste 

 horses. In the meane time the governours of the place 

 difFerred the matter from day to day, pretending divers 

 excuses, and saying one while that the consent of all the 

 governours, and another while, that the great and waightie 

 affaires of the kingdome compelled them to differ their 

 answerer and this they did of purpose, so long to 

 protract the time, untill the messenger (sent before to the 

 king) did returne with relation of his will and pleasure. 



But Master Chanceler, (seeing himselfe held in this 

 suspense with long and vaine expectation, and thinking 

 that of intention to -delude him, they posted the matter 

 off so often,) was very instant with them to performe 

 their promise : Which if they would not doe, hee tolde 

 them that hee would depart and proceede in his voyage. 

 So that the Moscovites (although as yet they knew not 

 the minde of their king) yet fearing the departure in 

 deede of our men who had such wares and commodities 

 as they greatly desired, they at last resolved to furnish 

 our people with all things necessarie, and to conduct 

 them by land to the presence of their king. And so 

 Master Chanceler beganne his journey, which was very 

 long and most troublesome, wherein hee had the use of 

 certaine sleds, which in that Countrey are very common, 

 for they are caried themselves upon sleds, and all their 



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