Page:Notes upon Russia (volume 2, 1851).djvu/197
your princes and the Prince of Muscovy, that they should of their own accord constitute themselves mediators? Especially, he urged, as he himself had put no such request to our princes, and could easily compel his enemy to conform to equitable conditions of peace. In reply, we bore testimony to the pious and Christian objects and sincere intention of our princes, and assured the king that they were earnestly desirous to see, and use every effort to bring about mutual friendship and goodwill between Christian princes. We even said, "If it be objectionable to the king that we should prosecute our commission, we will return and leave it unaccomplished, or, at least, will report the matter to our royal masters, and await their reply thereon." After this reply we were received somewhat more courteously and liberally, and even had hotels assigned to us. On that occasion an opportunity was afforded me of asking payment of the thousand florins which had been promised me in writing by the mother of Queen Bona, because I had previously, by command of the Emperor Maximilian, treated for this very marriage of her daughter. The king received the deed of promise from me in a gracious manner, and kept it until my return, when he took care to have me paid in full.
Leaving Cracow on the fourteenth day of February, we travelled in sledges with tolerable comfort through the following towns of Poland: —
The new city of Cortzin,
Polonitza,
Ossek,
Pocrovitza,
Sandomeria,
Savichost,
Ursendoff,
Lublin,
Parczov.
Three miles from thence we reached Polovitza, a town of