Part 7

2. Item, twenty entire sables exceeding beautiful with teeth, ears, and claws.

3. Item, four living sables with chains and collars.

4. Item, thirty Lausannes large and beautiful.

5. Item, six large and great skins, very rich and rare, worn only by the Emperor for worthiness.

6. Item, a large and fair white Jerfawcon, for the wild swan, crane, goose, and other great fowls. Together with a drum of silver, the hoops gilt, used for a lure to call the said hawk.

* * * * *

Gifts sent to the Emperor of Russia by the King and Queen’s Majesties of England.

1. First, two rich pieces of cloth of tissue.

2. Item, one fine piece of scarlet.

3. Item, one fine violet in grain.

4. Item, one fine azure cloth.

5. Item, a notable pair of brigandines, with a murrian covered with crimson velvet and gilt nails.

6. Item, a male and female lions.

* * * * *

Gifts given to the Ambassador at his Departure, over and above such as were delivered unto him at his first Arrival.

1. First, a chain of gold of one hundred pound.

2. Item, a large basin and ewer, silver and gilt.

3. Item, a pair of pottle pots gilt.

4. Item, a pair of flagons gilt.

THE VOYAGE.

Wherein OSEPP NAPEA, the Muscovite Ambassador, returned home into his Country, with his Entertainment at his Arrival at Colmogro; and a large description of the Manners of the Country.

THE 12th of May, in the year of our Lord 1567, there departed from Gravesend four good ships, well appointed for merchants, which were presently bound into the Bay of St. Nicholas in Russia, with which ships were transported or carried home one Osepp Gregoriwich Napea, who was sent messenger from the Emperor and Great Duke of Muscovy. The four ships were these whose names follow, viz.

The Primrose, Admiral.

The John Evangelist, Vice-Admiral.

The Anne, and the Trinity, Attendants.

The 13th of July, the aforesaid four ships came to an anchor in the Bay of St. Nicholas, before an Abbey called the Abbey of St. Nicholas, whereas the said messenger, Osepp Gregoriwich Napea, went ashore, and as many Englishmen as came to serve the Emperor, remained with him at the Abbey, for the space of six days, until he had gotten all his things ashore, and laden the same in barques to go up the river Dwina, unto Vologhda, which is by water 1,000 verstes, and every verste is about three-quarters of an English mile.

The 20th of July, we departed from St. Nicholas, and the 24th of the same we came to Colmogro, where we remained eight days; and the same messenger was there of all his acquaintance welcomed home, and had presents innumerable sent unto him, but it was nothing but meat and drink; some sent white bread, some rye bread, and some buttered bread and pancakes, beef, mutton, bacon, eggs, butter, fishes, swans, geese, ducks, hens, and all manner of victuals—both fish and flesh—in the best manner that the rude people could devise; for among them these presents are highly esteemed.

The 29th of July we departed from Colmogro, and the 14th of August we came to Vstioug, where we remained one day, and changed our barques, or boats.