the messenger cometh, and calleth them to dinner. They go, and
being conducted into the Golden Court (for so they call it, although
not very fair), they find the Emperor sitting upon a high and
stately seat, apparelled with a robe of silver, and with another
diadem on his head; our men, being placed over against him, sit
down. In the midst of the room stood a mighty cupboard upon a
square foot, whereupon stood also a round board, in manner of a
diamond, broad beneath, and towards the top narrow, and every step
rose up more narrow than the other. Upon this cupboard was placed
the Emperor's plate, which was so much that the very cupboard itself
was scant able to sustain the weight of it. The better part of all
the vessels and goblets was made of very fine gold; and, amongst the
rest, there were four pots of very large bigness, which did adorn
the rest of the plate in great measure, for they were so high, that
they thought them at the least five feet long. There were also upon
this cupboard certain silver casks, not much differing from the
quantity of our firkins, wherein was reserved the Emperor's drink.
On each side of the hall stood four tables, each of them laid and
covered with very clean table-cloths, whereunto the company ascended
by three steps or degrees, all which were filled with the assembly
present. The guests were all apparelled with linen without, and
with rich skins within, and so did notably set out this royal feast.
The Emperor, when he takes any bread or knife into his hand, doth
first of all cross himself upon his forehead. They that are in
special favour with the Emperor sit upon the same bench with him,
but somewhat far from him; and before the coming in of the meat the
Emperor himself, according to an ancient custom of the Kings of
Muscovy, doth first bestow a piece of bread upon every one of his
guests, with a loud pronunciation of his title and honour in this
manner, "The Great Duke of Muscovy and Chief Emperor of Russia, John