After this the priests began to sing, to bless, and to cense, and
did their service, and so by the time that they had done the water
was holy, which being sanctified, the Metropolitan took a little
thereof in his hands and cast it on the Emperor, likewise upon
certain of the dukes, and then they returned again to the church
with the priests that sat about the water; but the press that there
was about the water when the Emperor was gone was wonderful to
behold, for there came above 5,000 pots to be filled of that water.
For that Muscovite which hath no part of that water thinks himself
unhappy.

And very many went naked into the water, both men, women, and
children. After the press was a little gone, the Emperor's jennets
and horses were brought to drink of the same water, and likewise
many other men brought their horses thither to drink, and by that
means they make their horses as holy as themselves.

All these ceremonies being ended, we went to the Emperor to dinner,
where we were served in vessels of silver, and in all other points
as we had been beforetime.

The Russians begin their Lent always eight weeks before Easter: the
first week they eat eggs, milk, cheese, and butter, and make great
cheer with pancakes and such other things, one friend visiting
another, and from the same Sunday until our Shrove Sunday there are
but few Russians sober; but they are drunk day by day, and it is
accounted for no reproach or shame among them.

The next week, being our first week of Lent, or our cleansing week,
beginning our Shrove Sunday, they make and keep a great fast. It is