king's house, and they being after a sort wearied with their long
stay, were very ready and willing so to do; and, being entered
within the gates of the court, there sat a very honourable company
of courtiers, to the number of one hundred, all apparelled in cloth
of gold down to their ankles, and therehence being conducted into
the chamber of presence, our men began to wonder at the majesty of
the Emperor. His seat was aloft in a very royal throne, having on
his head a diadem or crown of gold, apparelled with a robe all of
goldsmith's work, and in his hand he held a sceptre garnished and
beset with precious stones; and, besides all other notes and
appearances of honour, there was a majesty in his countenance
proportionable with the excellency of his estate. On the one side
of him stood his Chief Secretary, and on the other side the Great
Commander of Silence, both of them arrayed also in cloth of gold;
and then there sat the Council, of one hundred and fifty in number,
all in like sort arrayed, and of great state. This so honourable an
assembly, so great a majesty of the Emperor and of the place, might
very well have amazed our men, and have dashed them out of
countenance; but, notwithstanding, Master Chanceler, being
therewithal nothing dismayed, saluted and did his duty to the
Emperor after the manner of England, and withal delivered unto him
the letters of their King Edward VI. The Emperor having taken and
read the letters, began a little to question with them, and to ask
them of the welfare of our king, whereunto our men answered him
directly and in few words. Hereupon our men presented something to
the Emperor by the Chief Secretary, which at the delivery of it put
off his hat, being before all the time covered; and so the Emperor
having invited them to dinner, dismissed them from his presence; and
going into the chamber of him that was Master of the Requests to the
Emperor, and having stayed there the space of two hours, at the last