Nowe while these things were a doing, they secretly sent a messenger vnto
the Emperour, to certifie him of the arriuall of a strange nation, and
withall to knowe his pleasure concerning them. Which message was very
welcome vnto him, insomuch that voluntarily he inuited them to come to his
Court. But if by reason of the tediousnesse of so long a iourney, they
thought it not best so to doe, then hee graunted libertie to his subiects
to bargaine, and to traffique with them: and further promised, that if it
would please then to come to him, hee himselfe would beare the whole
charges of poste horses. In the meane time the gouernours of the place
differred the matter from day to day, pretending diuers excuses, and saying
one while that the consent of all the gouernours, and another while, that
the great and waightie affaires of the kingdome compelled them to differ
their answere: and this they did of purpose, so long to protract the time,
vntill the messenger (sent before to the king) did returne with relation of
his will and pleasure.

But Master Chanceler, (seeing himselfe held in this suspense with long and
vaine expectation, and thinking that of intention to delude him, they
posted the matter off so often,) was very instant with them to performe
their promise: Which if they would not doe, hee tolde them that hee would
depart and proceede in his voyage. So that the Moscouites (although as yet
they knew not the minde of their king) yet fearing the departure in deede
of our men who had such wares and commodities as they greatly desired, they
at last resolued to furnish our people with all things necessarie, and to
conduct them by land to the presence of their king. And so Master Chanceler
beganne his iourney, which was very long and most troublesome, wherein hee
had the vse of certaine sleds, and all their carriages are in the same
sort, the people almost not knowing any other maner of carriage, the cause
whereof is the exceeding hardnesse of the ground congealed in the winter
time by the force of the colde, which in those places is very extreme and