Annals of the Bodleian Library, Oxford, A.D. 1598-A.D. 1867: With a Preliminary Notice of the earlier Library founded in the Fourteenth CenturyMacray, William Dunn
History
Annals of the Bodleian Library, Oxford, A.D. 1598-A.D. 1867: With a Preliminary Notice of the earlier Library founded in the Fourteenth Century
Macray, William Dunn
Bodleian Library
'Vppon this information, Sir Rich. Lee was very desirous to haue some of
the skyns of these Tartar lambes for his money, which at that time was
not to be gotten for money; for that whensoeuer any of those lambes were
at any time found, it was very rarely; and then also when they were
found, they were presented to the Emperor, or to some other great man of
the cuntrie, as a present of great worthe.
'At this time the Emperour had a gowne or longe cloake, made after the
fashion of that cuntrie with the skins of those Tartar lambes; which
garment the then Duke, and since Kinge, of Swethland was very desirous
to haue and offered great summes of money for, but could by no meanes
obtayne his desire.
'At this time also Sir Rich. Lee had an agatt of so great biggenesse
that he made thereof a pestle and a morter, whiche the Emperour hauinge
notice of, was desirous to haue for his money. Sir Rich. Lee,
vnderstandinge thereof, sent it to the Emperour as a present from him,
which the Emperour would not accept as a gift, neither would he haue it
but for his money. Sir Richard, beinge willinge the Emperour should haue
the pestle and the morter, yet lothe to playe the marchant at that time,
did therefore deliuer this pestle and morter, into the hands and
custodie of the Emperour's physitian to beate his physicke in it for the
Emperour; which manner of giuinge this pestle and morter did so please
the Emperour, as that he caused secret enquirie to be made whether there
were any thinge in those cuntries which Sir Richard was desirous to
haue, and by that means had notice that Sir Richard had endeuoured to
haue gotten some of their lambeskyns. Wherevppon the Emperour, after Sir
Richard had taken his leaue of him, and had receaued a great gift of him
as an Ambassador, and was departed one dayes iourney toward England, the
Emperour sent after him the before mentioned garment so made with their
Tartar lambeskyns as aforesaide, and with it some fewe skynnes loose,
and gaue them all vnto him freelie.
'Sir Richard Lee, travaylinge homewards, came to the Kinge of
Swethlandes court, who demaunded of him of diverse thinges of the
cuntrie of Muscovia; and, amongest other thinges, asked him whether he
had seene the aforesaid garment, and he answered, that he had not only
seene it, but had it in his possession; whereat the Kinge of Swethland
admired, sayinge he had longe laboured to get it for loue or money, but
could neuer obtayne it.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account