The Ringed Castle - Dorothy Dunnett [100]
He stood on the Tsar’s left hand, beside the crystal trimmed possoch, and that meant that he still held high office: that of Chancellor perhaps. And behind him, among the guards matched in white velvet was another man whom he recognized, and whom he had met for the first time over two weeks ago: the Voevoda Bolshoia. Mistress Philippa’s husband, Crawford of Lymond in court robes, bareheaded within the Tsar’s circle, and holding him also in a chilly blue gaze. Diccon Chancellor bowed to the Tsar, and followed by his four friends, walked down the carpet until he came to the bench in its centre and pausing, made full Western obeisance again.
‘Great Master, and King of all the Russians,’ said the Secretary Viscovatu to the Tsar. ‘The Ambassador Ritzert strikes his forehead before thee, for thy great favour in receiving the message of his mistress of England.’
The letter from the Queen, in English, Greek, Polish and Italian, was read. Chancellor knew it by heart. Philip and Marie, by the grace of God King and Queen of England, France, Naples, Jerusalem and Ireland, Defenders of the Faith, Princes of Spain and Sicily, Archdukes of Austrich, Dukes of Burgundy, Millaine and Brabant, Counts of Hapsburg, Flanders and Tyrol … Whereas by the consent and licence of our most dear and entirely beloved late brother King Edward VI, whose soul God pardon, sundry of our subjects, merchants of the City of London within these our realms of England did at their own proper costs and adventure furnish three ships to discover, search and find lands, islands, regions and territories before this adventure not known to be commonly haunted and frequented by seas …
We thank you for your princely favour and goodness … abundant grace extended to the said Richard Chancellor and others our subject merchants … pray and request you to continue the same benevolence towards them and other our merchants and subjects which do or hereafter shall resort to your country …
It may please you at this our contemplation to assign and authorize such commissaries as you shall think meet to trade and confer with our well-beloved subjects and merchants, the said Richard Chancellor, George Killingworth and Richard Grey, bearers of these our letters … and to grant such other liberties and privileges unto the Governor, Consuls, assistants and Communaltie of the fellowship of the said Merchants …
It was translated fluently, as it should be, since it had been in the Secretary’s hands for two days already for that purpose. But when the moment came for Chancellor to add his formal duty, and to refer, in language suitably rehearsed for a good hour to his mirror, the lordly gifts still awaiting transport from Vologda, the interpreter showed the same astonishing fluency. Chancellor, prepared to speak in the painful spaced phrases of two years ago, found his thoughts caught before he had formed them, and had to bend his mind hard to its purpose, while avoiding the academic blue gaze under the ikon. The devil, he thought, take all missionaries.
But it was a comfort, all the same, when the Tsar spoke, and the same well-taught voice, speaking in English, translated without fear of mistake the grand prince’s welcome, and his inquiry after the health of Queen Mary his cousin. Diccon Chancellor answered in English, and then it was time to walk to the steps, and look into the lean, bearded face below the arched brows, and hear the Emperor say, ‘Give me your hand.’
The hand of Ivan Vasilievich, long-fingered and bony, held his. The fleshy lips, opening unexpectedly, said, ‘Thou hast our tongue, I am told. Hast thou travelled well?’
‘Through the mercy of God and your grace, quite well,’ said Chancellor. He prayed that his grammar was less than ludicrous. ‘God give your grace