ABSTRACT
WhentheKingatArmshadreadthisLetter,theAmbassador madethisSpeechtothePrince.
MostExcellentPrince, FameseemedtotheEmperor,mySovereign,todoyourHighness Right,byfillingtheWorldwiththeRenownofyourPrincely Vertues,andValourofyourbraveCourt;tilloflate,thegallant Behaviour,andheroicalProwessofdiversyourKnightsofthe Helmet,whomthegoodFortuneofRussia,addressedtoyourcold Climate,discoveredthatFametobeeitherenviousinsuppressing agreatpartofyourValour,orunabletosetforthsoadmirable VertuestotheirfullMerits:ForbythesefiveKnights(whose greatestVauntswere,thattheywereyourExcellency'sServants)an exceedingnumberofBigarianTartars,whosevagabondIn-roads, andinhumaneFiercenessinfestedhisBorders,captivatedhis People,burnthisCities,andspoiledwholeProvinces,wasbya mostwonderfulVictory,repulsed,andbeatenback.Andwithal, bytheirbraveConduct,theysurprizedanotherArmyofNe-groTartars;whosewretchedDevicesceasednottoworktheCOnfusion andCombustionofourwholeCountry,anddivertedtheirbarbarous Crueltywhereitmightdousmostdamage.Thesesameworthy Knights,beforetheycouldreceivethatHonourwherewithmy SoveraignintendedtoadorntheirVertues,didwithdrawthemselves,andareretired,asHisMajestyisinformed,toyourCourt. Whereupon,hesentme,partlytocongratulateyourHappiness, whodeservetocommandoversuchanumberofgallantGentlemen;butespecially,toconjureyourExcellency(accordingtothe ancientLeagueandAmitycontinuedbetwixtyou)thatyouwould sendhimthesesixKnights,accompaniedwithanhundredother ofthesameOrder;forhedoubtethnot,butbytheirVertues, accompaniedandattendedwithhisownForces,whoare,inlargenessofDominion,andnumberofPeople,andallotherWarlike
Gesta Grayorum 441 Furniture and Provision, inferiour to no Earthly Potentate, that these Runagate Tartars shall be again confined to their Deserts, with their memorable Slaughter, and your common Glory and Profit: ... [The Russian Ambassador was feasted, and after many jests the Prince made a speech ending as follows:]
Our Self, with Our chosen Knights, with an Am!)' Royal, will make towards our Brother of Russia, with 11!)' Lord here, his Ambassador, presentry to join with him against his Enemies, the Negarian Tartars; more dreadful, the Barbarian Tartars: And if Fortune will not grace Our good Attempt, as I am righiful Prince, and true Sovereign of the honourable Order of the Helmet, and by all those Ladies whom, in Knight?J Honour, I love and serve, I will make the Name of a Grayan Knight more dreadful to the Barbarian Tartars, than the Macedonian to the wearied Persians, the Roman to the dispersed Britains, or the Castalian to the weakned Indians. Gentle Ladies, be now benign and gracious to your Knights, that never pleased themselves, but when their Service pleased you; that for your sakes shall undertake hard Adventures, that will make your Names and Beauties most famous, even in Foreign Regions; let your Favour kindle the Vigour of their Spirits, wherewith they abound; for they are the Men, by whom your Fame, your Honour, your Vertue shall be for ever advanced, protected at1d admired.
