The New Navigation and Discovery of the Kingdom of Muscovy | Page 9

parts before that time they
had never seen the like), began presently to avoid and to flee. But he
still following them, at last overtook them, and being come to them,
they (being in great fear as men half dead) prostrated themselves before
him, offering to kiss his feet; but he (according to his great and singular
courtesy) looked pleasantly upon them, comforting them by signs and
gestures, refusing those duties and reverences of theirs, and taking them
up in all loving sort from the ground. And it is strange to consider how
much they were afterwards in that place this humanity of his did
purchase to himself. For they being dismissed, spread by-and-by a
report abroad of the arrival of a strange nation of a singular gentleness
and courtesy, whereupon the common people came together offering to
those new-come guests victuals freely, and not refusing to traffic with
them, except they had been bound by a certain religious use and custom
not to buy any foreign commodities without the knowledge and consent
of the king.
By this time our men had learned that this country was called Russia or
Muscovy, and that Ivan Vasilivich (which was at that time their king's
name) ruled and governed far and wide in those places. And the
barbarous Russians asked likewise of our men whence they were and
what they came for. Whereunto answer was made that they were
Englishmen sent into those coasts from the most excellent King
Edward VI., having from him in commandment certain things to
deliver to their king, and seeking nothing else but his amity and
friendship and traffic with his people, whereby they doubted not but
that great commodity and profit would grow to the subjects of both
kingdoms. The barbarians heard these things very gladly, and promised
their aid and furtherance to acquaint their king out of hand with so
honest and reasonable a request.
In the meantime Master Chanceler entreated victuals for his money of
the governor of that place, who, together with others, came aboard him,
and required hostages of them likewise for the more assurance of safety
to himself and his company. To whom the governors answered that
they knew not in that case the will of their king, and yet were willing in
such things as they might lawfully do to pleasure him, which was as

then to afford him the benefit of victuals. Now whilst these things were
a-doing, they secretly sent a messenger unto the Emperor to certify him
of the arrival of a strange nation, and withal to know his pleasure
concerning them. Which message was very welcome unto him,
insomuch that voluntarily he invited them to come to his court. But if
by reason of the tediousness of so long a journey they thought it not
best so to do, then he granted liberty to his subjects to bargain and to
traffic with them. And further promised that if it would please them to
come to him, he himself would bear the whole charges of post-horses.
In the meantime the governors of the place deferred the matter from
day to day, pretending divers excuses, and saying one while that the
consent of all the governors, and another while that the great and
weighty affairs of the kingdom compelled them to defer their answer.
And this they did of purpose, so long to protract the time until the
messenger (sent before to the king) did return with relation of his will
and pleasure.
But Master Chanceler (seeing himself held in this suspense with long
and vain expectation and thinking that of intention to delude him, they
posted the matter off so often) was very instant with them to perform
their promise, which if they would not do he told them that he would
depart and proceed in his voyage. So that the Muscovites (although as
yet they knew not the mind of their king) yet fearing the departure
indeed of our men, who had such wares and commodities as they
greatly desired, they at last resolved to furnish our people with all
things necessary, and to conduct them by land to the presence of their
king. And so Master Chanceler began his journey, which was very long
and most troublesome, wherein he had the use of certain sledges which
in that country are very common, for they are carried themselves upon
sledges, and all their carriages are in the same sort, the people almost
not knowing any other manner of carriage, the cause whereof is the
exceeding hardness of the ground, congealed in the winter time by the
force of the cold, which in those places is very extreme and horrible,
whereof hereafter we will say something. But now, they having passed
the greater part of their journey, met at