And after that we were all set vpon one side of the table,
the Emperors maiestie according to his accustomed maner sent vnto euery man
a piece of bread by some of the Dukes which attended on his highnesse.
And whereas the 14 of September we were serued in vessels of gold, we were
now serued in vessels of siluer, and yet not so abundantly as was the first
of gold: they brought drinke vnto the table in siluer boles which conteined
at the least sixe gallons a piece, and euerie man had a smal siluer cuppe
to drinke in, and another to dip or to take his drinke out of the great
boll withall: the dinner being ended, the Emperour gaue vnto euery one of
vs a cup with meade, which when we had receiued, we gaue thanks and
departed.
Moreouer, whensoeuer the Emperors pleasure is that any stranger shall dine
with him, he doth send for them in the morning, and when they come before
him, he with his owne mouth biddeth them to dinner, and this order he
alwaies obserueth.
The 10 of October the Emperour gaue vnto M. Standish 70 rubles in money,
and to the rest of our men of occupations 30 rubles apiece.
The 3 of Nouember we dined againe with the Emperour, where we were serued
as before.
[Sidenote: Long Dinners.] The 6 of December being S. Nicholas day, we dined
againe at the Emperours, for that is one of the principall feasts which the
Moscouites hold: we were serued in siluer vessels and ordered in all points
as before, and it was past 7 of the clocke at night before dinner was
ended.
The Emperours maiestie vseth euery yeare in the moneth of December, to haue
all his ordinance that is in the citie of Mosco caried into the field which
is without the Suburbs of the citie, and there to haue it planted and bent
vpon two houses of Wood filled within with earth: against which two houses
there were two faire white markes set vp, at which markes they discharge
all their ordinance, to the ende the Emperour may see what his Gunners can
doe. [Sidenote: Ordinance in Russia.] They haue faire ordinance of brasse
of all sortes, bases, faulcons, minions, sakers, culuerings, cannons double
and royall, basiliskes long and large, they haue sixe great pieces whose
shot is a yard of height, which shot a man may easily discerne as they
flee: they haue also a great many of morter pieces or potguns, out of which
pieces they shoote wild fire.
