it known, that at our sea coasts arrived a ship, with one Richard
and his company, and said, that he was desirous to come into our
dominions, and according to his request hath seen our Majesty and
our eyes; and hath declared unto us your Majesty's desire as that we
should grant unto your subjects, to go and come, and in our
dominions, and among our subjects to frequent free marts, with all
sorts of merchandises, and upon the same to have wares for their
return. And they have also delivered us your letters which declare
the same request. And hereupon we have given order, that
wheresoever your faithful servant Hugh Willoughbie land or touch in
our dominions, to be well entertained, who as yet is not arrived, as
your servant Richard can declare.

"And we, with Christian belief and faithfulness, and according to
your honourable request and my honourable commandment will not leave
it undone, and are furthermore willing that you send unto us your
ships and vessels, when, and as often as they may have passage, with
good assurance on our part to see them harmless. And if you send
one of your Majesty's council to treat with us, whereby your country
merchants may with all kinds of wares, and where they will, make
their market in our dominions, they shall have their free mart with
all free liberties through my whole dominions with all kinds of
wares, to come and go at their pleasure, without any let, damage, or
impediment, according to this our letter, our word, and our seal,
which we have commanded to be under-sealed. Written in our dominion
in our town and in our palace in the Castle of Moscow, in the year
seven thousand and sixty, the second month of February."

This letter was written in the Muscovian tongue, in letters much
like to the Greek letters, very fair written on paper with a broad