Queene Elizabeth to the Emperor of Russia;

[In 1583; the object of his mission being to persuade the Muscovite
(Ivan IV. the Terrible) to a peace with John, King of Sweden. He
was also employed to confirm the trade of the English with Russia,
and having incurred some personal danger, was received with favour
on his return by the Queen. He died in 1616.]

who, because some of the noblemen there would go up the stairs to the
Emperor before him, he would not go up till the Emperor had ordered those
two men to be dragged down stairs, with their heads knocking upon every
stair till they were killed. And when he was come up, they demanded his
sword of him before he entered the room. He told them, if they would have
his sword, they should have his boots too. And so caused his boots to be
pulled off, and his night-gown and night-cap and slippers to be sent for;
and made the Emperor stay till he could go in his night-dress, since he
might not go as a soldier. And lastly, when the Emperor in contempt, to
show his command of his subjects, did command one to leap from the window
down and broke his neck in the sight of our Embassador, he replied that
his mistress did set more by, and did make better use of the necks of her
subjects but said that, to show what her subjects would do for her, he
would, and did, fling down his gantlett before the Emperor; and challenged
all the nobility there to take it up, in defence of the Emperor against
his Queen: for which, at this very day, the name of Sir Jerom Bowes is
famous and honoured there. After dinner I came home and found Sir John
Minnes come this day, and I went to him to Sir W. Batten's, where it
pleased me to see how jealous Sir Williams both are of my going down to
Woolwich, &c., and doing my duty as I nowadays do, and of my dining with
the Commission of the Customs. So to my office, and there till 9 at
night, and so to my lodgings to bed. I this day heard that Mr. Martin