Of which people and of their countrey, I will hereafter make
mention.
All the tables aforesayde were couered onely with salt and bread, and after
that we had sitten awhile, the Emperour sent vnto euery one of vs a piece
of bread, which were given and deliuered vnto euery man seuerally by these
words: The Emperour and great Duke giueth the bread this day, and in like
manner three or foure times before dinner was ended, he sent vnto euery man
drinke, which was giuen by these words, The Emperour and great Duke giueth
thee to drinke. All the tables aforesayd were serued 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 diuers
fashions, whereof a great number were set with stone. As for costly meates
I haue many times seene better: but for change of wines, and diuers 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 haue bin set, and as far
as I could perceiue, all the rest were in the like maner serued.
In the dinner time, there came in sixe singers which stood in the midst of
the chamber, and their faces towards the Emperour, who sang there before
dinner was ended three seuerall times, whose songs or voyces delighted our
eares little or nothing.
The Emperour neuer putteth morsell of meate in his mouth, but he first
blesseth it himselfe, and in like maner as often as he drinketh: for after
his maner he is very religious, and he esteemeth his religious men aboue
his noble men.
This dinner continued about the space of fiue houres, which being ended,
and the tables taken vp, we came into the midst of the chamber, where we
did reuerence vnto the Emperors maiestie, and then he deliuered vnto euery
one of vs with his own hands a cup of mead, which when euery man had
receiued and drunke a quantity thereof, we were licensed to depart, and so
ended that dinner. And because the Emperour would haue vs to be mery he
sent to our lodging the same Euening three barrels of meade of sundry
sortes, of the quantitie in all of one hogshed.
The 16 day of September the Emperour sent home vnto our lodging for euery
of vs a Tartarie horse to ride from place to place as we had occasion, for
that the streetes of Mosco are very fowle and mirie in the Summer.
[Sidenote: M. Standish doctor of Phisicke.] The 18 of September there were
giuen vnto master Standish doctor in Physick, and the rest of our men of
our occupations, certaine furred gownes of branched veluet and gold, and
some of red damaske, of which master Doctors gowne was furred with Sables,
and the rest were furred some with white Ermine, and some with gray
Squirel, and all faced and edged round about with blacke beauer.
