A.D. 



1246. 



The banquet of 

 the 'Nobles. 



[I. 68.] 

 JeroslausDuke 

 of Susdal. 



Ambassadors 

 of sundry na- 

 tions. 



THE ENGLISH VOYAGES 



at which there stood watchmen, with bowes, swords, & 

 arrowes. And whosoever approched unto the tent beyond 

 the bounds and limit assigned, being caught, was beaten, 

 but if he fled, he was shot at with arrowes or iron. There 

 were many that to our judgement, had upon their bridles, 

 trappers, saddles, and such like furniture, to the value of 

 20. markes in pure gold. The foresaid Dukes (as we 

 thinke) communed together within the tent, and consulted 

 about the election of their Emperor. But all the residue 

 of the people were placed farre away without the walles of 

 board, & in this maner they staied almost til noone. 

 Then began they to drink mares milk, & so continued 

 drinking til even tide, and that in so great quantity, as it 

 was wonderfull. And they called us in unto them, and 

 gave us of their ale, because we could not drink their 

 mares milke. And this they did unto us in token of 

 great honor. But they compelled us to drink so much, 

 that in regard of our customary diet, wee coulde by no 

 means endure it. Whereupon, giving them to under- 

 stand, that it was hurtful unto us, they ceassed to compel 

 us any more. Without the doore stoode Duke Jeroslaus 

 of Susdal, in Russia, and a great many Dukes of the 

 Kythayans, and of the Solangi. The two sonnes also of 

 the king of Georgia, the ligier of the Caliph of Baldach, 

 who was a Soldan, and (as we thinke) above ten Soldans 

 of the Saracens beside. And, as it was tolde us by the 

 agents, there were more then 4000. ambassadors, partly 

 of such as paide tributes, and such as presented gifts, 

 and other Soldans, and Dukes, which came to yeeld 

 themselves, and such as the Tartars had sent for, 

 and such as were governours of lands. All these were 

 placed without the lists, and had drinke given unto them. 

 But almost continually they all of them gave us and 

 Duke Jeroslaus the upper hand, when we were abroad 

 in their companie. 



170 



