is able to maintain. And all those to whom any land falls by
inheritance are in no better condition, for if they die without any
male issue, all their lands fall into the hands of the Emperor; as,
moreover, if there be any rich man amongst them, who in his own
person is unfit for the wars, and yet hath such wealth, that thereby
many noblemen and warriors might be maintained, if any of the
courtries present his name to the Emperor, the unhappy man is by-
and-by sent for, and in that instant deprived of all his riches,
which with great pains and travail all his lifetime he had gotten
together, except perhaps some small portion thereof be left him to
maintain his wife, children, and family. But all this is done of
all people so willingly at the Emperor's commandment, that a man
would think they would rather make restitution of other men's goods
than give that which is their own to other men. Now the Emperor
having taken these goods into his hands, bestoweth them among his
courtiers according to their deserts, and the oftener that a man is
sent to the wars, the more favour he thinketh is borne to him by the
Emperor, although he go upon his own charge, as I said before. So
great is the obedience of all men generally to their prince.


OF THE AMBASSADORS OF THE EMPEROR OF MUSCOVY.


The Muscovite, with no less pomp and magnificence than that which we
have spoken of, sends his ambassadors to foreign princes in the
affairs of estate. For while our men were abiding in the city of
Moscow, there were two ambassadors sent to the King of Poland,
accompanied with 500 notable horse; and the greater part of the men
were arrayed in cloth of gold and of silk, and the worst apparel was