Basiliwich (and then the officer nameth the guest), doth give thee
bread," whereupon all the guests rise up and by-and-by sit down
again. This done, the Gentleman Usher of the hall comes in with a
notable company of servants carrying the dishes, and having done his
reverence to the Emperor, puts a young swan in a golden platter upon
the table, and immediately takes it thence again, delivering it to
the carver and seven other of his fellows to be cut up, which being
performed, the meat is then distributed to the guests with the like
pomp and ceremonies. In the meantime, the Gentleman Usher receives
his bread and talketh to the Emperor, and afterward, having done his
reverence, he departeth. Touching the rest of the dishes, because
they were brought in out of order, our men can report no certainty;
but this is true, that all the furniture of dishes and drinking
vessels, which were then for the use of a hundred guests, was all of
pure gold, and the tables were so laden with vessels of gold, that
there was no room for some to stand upon them.

We may not forget that there were one hundred and forty servitors
arrayed in cloth of gold, that in the dinner-time changed thrice
their habit and apparel, which servitors are in like sort served
with bread from the Emperor as the rest of the guests. Last of all,
dinner being ended, and candles brought in (for by this time night
was come), the Emperor calleth all his guests and noblemen by their
names, in such sort that it seems miraculous that a prince,
otherwise occupied in great matters of estate, should so well
remember so many and sundry particular names. The Russians told our
men that the reason thereof, as also of the bestowing of bread in
like manner, was to the end that the Emperor might keep the
knowledge of his own household, and withal, that such as are under
his displeasure might by this means be known.