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