Attendants, were all at the charge of the Russian Emperour (for so is the custome of that Coun∣trey, to all Trauellers of that nature, as long as they are passing through his Dominions) who eats such meate as is brought before them gratis, hauing withall, a Guard set ouer them, so that they are little better then Prisoners, as long as they are within the limits of his Territories.
From Haster-caune wee past by Boate along the mightie Riuer of Volgo, vntill wee came to a Towne named Negson, which was seuen weekes passage. In which time, we saw nothing wor∣thy the noting, but three or foure woodden Castles or Block-houses to guard that Riuer, which Riuer doth bring maruellous great Commodities to the Emperour, and to the whole Countrey. Diuers Tartars passing from place to place about that Riuer, liuing in little Houses made vpon Wheeles, and are carryed too and fro, hauing abundance of Cattell, liue so in subiection to the [ 10] Emperour, paying him Tribute, &c. One onely faire Citie wee saw all that while called Cas∣sane, wherein we were: from whence we passed to Negson aforesaid, where by the way fell out a Iarre betweene Sir Anthonie and the other Ambassadour, because Sir Anthonie presumed to repre∣hend him for diuers misdemeanors which he committed, to the dishonour of his King and Coun∣trey: Insomuch, that had we not had guard in our Company, one of vs had killed another. Lea∣uing here a while, I will turne againe to the Frier, who was by this time growne into mortall hatred with his fellow Frier, of whom before I spake, whose name was Alfonso, a Frier of the Order of Saint Francis. Which Frier had acquainted Sir Anthonie, that Frier Nicolao had spent his life most lewdly in the Indies, the particularities whereof he at large related. Moreouer, hee told him, that by reason of his licentious life, the King of Spaine had sent for him, because hee [ 20] did much more hurt then good in those parts, but neuer would come vntill now that he was go∣ing thither-ward. He also told Sir Anthonie, that that Present which he deliuered the King of Persia in his owne name, was sent by a Friend of the Kings from Ormus, by another, who had withall, a Letter to the King. Which Bearer, (being of his Acquaintance) hee inueigled and inticed by the gift of fiftie Crownes, and faire words, to deliuer him the Present, together with the Letter to carry to the King, who finally preuailed with him. And when he came to Persia, hee suppressed the Letter, but deliuered the Present in his owne name, as before is declared.
Vpon discouery of which villanies, Sir Anthonie tooke him Prisoner, and carryed him along with him, as one depriued of former libertie. And being come to Negson, we stayed there neere hand a moneth. Towards the end whereof the Emperour sent a great man of his Court thither, [ 30] for to accompany and conduct vs to Musco, who gaue the preheminence to the Persian Am∣bassador, in that he was Ambassadour to the Emperour from the Persian, and Sir Anthonie but a Passenger through his Countrey, as he esteemed him, and so did vse him at his pleasure, to Sir An∣thonies small contentment, vntil we came to Musco, where we were entertayned in the best sort they could, with a crue of Aquanita-bellyed Fellowes, clad in Coates of Cloth of Gold: which shew being ended, for the first encounter, those Coates were put vp againe into the Treasurie or Wardrobe, and we shut vp in Prison for ten dayes, yea all accesse of others to vs, or we to them was thereby vtterly barred. In which time wee sent to entreate, that either our English Mer∣chants might bee permitted to come to vs, or that wee might goe or send to them for necessaries, because we were not fitted with Clothes (as we thought) conuenient for the Emperors presence. [ 40] Whereupon the Lord Chancellor sent for the Merchants, enquiring of them what Sir Anthonie was, and whether they durst giue him any credit. To whom they replyed, that hee was nobly descended, and allyed euen to the best men of England: yea, and that they would giue him cre∣dit for as much as they were worth. Hereupon they had libertie to send vs such necessaries as we sent for, but no libertie to come to vs, much lesse we to them. The tenth day we were sent for to come before the Emperour after their order, which was, to lay downe in a note, how e∣uery man should be marshalled in comming (being all on Horsebacke) wherein the Persian Am∣bassadour was appointed by the Emperour to haue the first and chiefe place, the next, that Per∣sian that was sent but to accompany Sir Anthonie, and the last of the three should be Sir Antho∣nie himselfe. Which when Sir Anthonie perceiued, he vtterly refused to goe in that Order, be∣cause [ 50] that he, to whose trust and charge the whole businesse had beene committed, and by whom the same was solely procured: by which Persia likewise should be infinitely benefited (special∣ly hee being a Christian, and they Pagans) should bee put hindermost in the march, that was the foremost in the matter.
By the meanes of which refusall, he purchased the Emperors displeasure: and to manifest the same, first, he took the Frier from Sir Antonie, and gaue him his libertie to go whither he thought good. Next, he daily sent his great Dukes to examine Sir Anthonie vpon diuers friuolous par∣ticularities, to proue, if they thereby might grope out some matter of aduantage against him. Thus daily he was extremely vexed and molested by the Emperour, the Persian Embassadour, withall setting on the Frier vnder-hand, to deuise all the villanie hee could against him, as to [ 60] say, he knew Sir Anthonie to be but a man of meane parentage, and also, that he was come but as a Spie through the Countrey for purposes tending to his owne good, and not of Persia and Chri∣stendome, as he pretended. Whereupon they tooke all the Kings Letters from him, and ope∣ned them, to know the purport thereof.