geldings, who conducting him to a merchant's house four miles from
London, received there a quantity of gold, velvet, and silk, with
all furniture thereunto requisite, wherewith he made him a riding
garment, reposing himself that night. The next day being Saturday,
and the last day of February, he was by the merchants adventuring
for Russia, to the number of one hundred and forty persons, and so
many or more servants in one livery as above said, conducted towards
the City of London, where by the way he had not only the hunting of
the fox and such-like sport shown him, but also by the Queen's
Majesty's commandment was received and embraced by the Right
Honourable Viscount Montagu, sent by her Grace for his
entertainment. He being accompanied with divers lusty knights,
esquires, gentlemen, and yeomen to the number of three hundred
horses, led him to the north parts of the City of London, where by
four notable merchants, rich apparelled, was presented to him a
right fair and large gelding, richly trapped, together with a foot-
cloth of Orient crimson velvet, enriched with gold laces, all
furnished in most glorious fashion, of the present and the gift of
the said merchants; whereupon the ambassador at instant desire
mounted, riding on the way towards Smithfield Bars, the first limits
of the liberties of the City of London. The Lord Mayor, accompanied
with all the aldermen in their scarlet, did receive him; and so
riding through the City of London in the middle between the said
Lord Mayor and Viscount Montagu, a great number of merchants and
notable personages riding before, and a large troop of servants and
apprentices following, was conducted through the City of London
(with great admiration and plausibility of the people, running
plentifully on all sides, and replenishing all streets in such sort
as no man without difficulty might pass) into his lodging situate in
Fant Church (Fenchurch) Street, where were provided for him two