himself send ambassadors to Moscow, and the imperial legates accordingly sent to Sigismund, who was at that time staying at Dantzig, to request his compliance with this demand. The king received the proposal without objection, and sent two noblemen as negociators; a delegate was, at the same time, sent from the pope, likewise to plead for peace between the two sovereigns; and by these means, after many difficulties, and a considerable lapse of time, an armistice for five years was finally agreed upon.
During Herberstein’s abode in Moscow, he had an opportunity of witnessing several of the festivities and recreations of the court,—especially some hunting scenes, of which he gives a particular description: such as hunting the hare, bear-baiting, and hawking. In speaking of a hare-hunt, he says that an immense number of hares were preserved in narrow enclosures, and the entire circuit spread round with nets. The huntsmen in various dresses, each leading two dogs in a leash, made their way, with loud shouts, through the enclosure to rouse the game. The grand-prince hunted with particularly fine dogs, called kurtzen (probably the beautiful long-haired Siberian greyhound). His hunting-dress consisted of a white cap, with a border covered all round with precious stones, and adorned in front with feathers of gold, which waved with every motion of his head. His garment was a therlik, “similar to a herald’s coat”, embroidered with gold; a couple of knives and a dagger hung from his girdle, and at his back, beneath the girdle, was a weapon called kestene, which was a staff of wood two spans long, with
