ad. THE ENGLISH VOYAGES 



1557- 



his enemies. Of which people and of their countrey, I 



will hereafter make mention. 



All the tables aforesayde were covered onely with salt 

 and bread, and after that we had sitten a while, the 

 Emperour sent unto every one of us a piece of bread, 

 which were given and delivered unto every man severally 

 by these words : The Emperour and great Duke giveth 

 the bread this day, and in like manner three or foure 

 times before dinner was ended, he sent unto every man 

 drinke, which was given by these words, The Emperour 

 and great Duke giveth thee to drinke. All the tables 

 aforesayd were served in vessels of pure and fine golde, 

 as well basons and ewers, platters, dishes and sawcers, as 

 also of great pots, with an innumerable sorte of small 

 drinking pottes of divers fashions, whereof a great 

 [I. 316"! number were set with stone. As for costly meates I 

 have many times seene better : but for change of wines, 

 and divers sorts of meads, it was wonderfull : for there 

 was not left at any time so much void roome on the 

 table, that one cuppe more might have bin set, and as 

 far as I could perceive, all the rest were in the like 

 maner served. 



In the dinner time there came in sixe singers which 

 stood in the midst of the chamber, and their faces 

 towards the Emperor, who sang there before dinner 

 was ended three severall times, whose songs or voices 

 delighted our eares little or nothing. 



The Emperour never putteth morsell of meate in his 

 mouth, but he first blesseth it himselfe, & in like 

 maner as often as he drinketh : for after his maner he 

 is very religious, & he esteemeth his religious men above 

 his noble men. 



This dinner continued about the space of five houres, 

 which being ended, and the tables taken up, we came 

 into the midst of the chamber, where we did reverence 

 unto the Emperors majestie, and then he delivered unto 

 every one of us with his own hands a cup of mead, 

 which when every man had received and drunke a 



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