coming up stairs, made various pretences of delay, so as to retard the meeting; and we encountered them right in the middle of the staircase, and invited them to enter the house so as to rest a little, but that they refused to do. The knes himself said: "Our great sovereign (repeating the whole title) has given orders that you should come to him."
We then mounted our horses, and went on our way accompanied by a great escort; but on approaching the Kremlin fell into so great a crowd, that in spite of the exertions of our attendants, we had much difficulty in passing through. For it is a custom amongst these people, that on all occasions when distinguished ambassadors from foreign kings and princes are to be conducted to the court, the lower class of nobles, stipendiaries, and soldiers, assemble together by command of the prince, from the neighbouring and surrounding districts. All the taverns and shops of the city are on such occasions shut up, all buyers and sellers are expelled from the market-place, and the citizens gather together to the scene of display from all quarters. The result of this is, that the power of the prince appears very great in the eyes of foreigners, from such an immense concourse of men as his subjects; while, on the other hand, his dignity is made apparent to all his subjects, when they see such embassies sent to him by foreign princes.
On entering the Kremlin, we saw men of different ranks arranged in different parts or divisions of the building. Near the gate stood the citizens, the soldiers and stipendiaries occupied the fore-court, accompanying and preceding us on foot, and prevented us, by halting, from approaching or alighting from our horses near the steps; for no one is permitted, except the prince, to alight from his horse near the steps. This is done by way of showing greater honour to the prince. Then first, as we come to the middle of the steps, certain of the prince's councillors came forward to meet us, presenting us their hands and lips, and led us a little further on our
