said he; “is he their neighbour, or even friend, that they trouble themselves so much about him?” Herberstein then explained to him quietly and with dignity the purpose of their journey, and proved that their travelling in company with the Russian ambassadors was only by accident, and that their sovereigns could not decline to receive an embassy sent from so great a distance purely for the purpose of asking their friendship; that, moreover, their intention was to act according to the precepts of religion in trying to make peace between two Christian sovereigns. If, however, the king should not feel inclined to have these negotiations carried on through the German ambassadors, they were ready to return home, and to give an account to their respective sovereigns of the king’s wish, and to wait for the answer. They even would go so far as to show the king their instructions, although this was quite contrary to all custom. This open and noble speech was effectual: Sigismund became more friendly, gave up his mistrust, and finally showed himself ready to enter into a negotiation for the peace which was to be interceded for at Moscow. He endeavoured to facilitate the continuation of their journey, and sent fifty florins to each of them to pay their bill at the hotel, as properly and according to custom he ought to have provided for them from their first arrival. Herberstein thought this occasion favourable for producing the bond which he had received eight years before from the duchess of Milan for the same, to be paid to him in case he succeeded in bringing about the marriage of her daughter Bona
