ABSTRACT
In the sixteenth century, Russia and England developed trade relations, and rulers considered diplomatic marriages. Some of Shakespeare's plays demonstrated English fascination with Russia. Tsar Boris Godonov sent four youths to England to be educated and then to return to help modernize Russia. But with the Time of Troubles, the four were forgotten for some years. Then Tsar Michael began sending ambassadors demanding their return. Three were unavailable. The last, Mikipher Alphery, had become an Anglican and was ordained as minister. He worked for years to avoid being sent back to Russia, and eventually, James I allowed him to stay. After his death in 1668, there began to be legends that Alphery was a cousin of the Tsar and that the Russians had hoped he would return to become Tsar himself.
