taught them warrelike stratagemes, and the arte of fortification. In the
dayes of Sigismund the Russe would tant the Polacks, that they loued their
ease at home with their wiues, and to drinke, and were not at commandement
of their king. This Sigismund had to wife the daughter of Ferdinando,
Charles the fifts brother, and he died without issue. [Sidenote: Polotzko
recouered by Stephanus Batore.] Since, which time their late elected king
Stephanus Batore [Footnote: Stephen Bathore, the second Elected-King,
established the Cossacks as a militia. He died in 1586.] kept the Russe in
better order, and recouered Polotzko againe in the yere 1579. Thus with my
hearty farewell I take my leaue of your worship.

Your assured friend Henrie Lane.

* * * * *

A Letter of the most excellent Maiestie of Queene Elizabeth, sent by
Stephen Twerdico and Pheodata Pogorella, messengers of the Emperour of
Russia, vnto their Master the 9th of May 1568.

Imperatori Moscouitarum, &c.

ELIZABETHA &c. Literas vestrae, Maiestatis superiori anno 1567, decimo die
mensis Aprilis datas, vestri mercatores Stephanus Twerdico, et Pheodata
Pogorella, qui has nostras perferunt, nobis tradidere. Quos vestros
mercatores in omni suo apud nos et nostros obeundo negotio, ita tractari,
et libenti voluntate, et expresso nostro mandato curauimus, vt non solum
vestrae Maiestatis pro illis postulationi, sed eorundem etiam hominum
expectationi plene satisfactum esse confidamus. Id quod eo fecimus
studiosius, quod plane perspectum, probeque cognitum habeamus, nostros
omnes, qui bona cum gratia nostra, nostrarumque literarum commendatione,