Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 8.djvu/79

Rh sum of 193l. 12s. 7d. currency (English) of that time; so that it may be safely said ambassadors' outfits are of very old date. Their carpets, fifteen in number, which would have to serve as beds, cost 15l. 15s. 6d. The armour, including seven iron plates, eleven basinets, &c., cost 44l. 5s.

When they were fairly landed in Asia Minor, we find that they employed the Saracens as porters to carry their luggage, and perform other servile offices, so strong appears to have been the Moghul rule. At Trebisond, the climate proving rather warm, Master Buscarelli, the chief envoy, was obliged to buy a parasole (sic),—an item not without interest to those who have sought to trace the introduction, or early uses, of the umbrella in England. The Emperor, or Sultan, of Trebisond's cook seems to have suited their tastes, for they made him a gift of 100 aspers. The weather still grew warmer, and another parasol was bought at Tabriz, in Kurdistan. These were, including two shillings'-worth of paper, their most remarkable purchases.

On returning home to England, they brought with them a leopard in a gabea or cage (gabbia), which was fed on sheep throughout the journey; several being put on board the galley for its use while at Constantinum Nobilem, as it pleased the scribe to write Constantinople.

As this document is perhaps the earliest extant relating to an English mission to such very remote parts, it appeared to me worthy of being brought under the notice of the Institute. In a succeeding paper I hope to complete the Itinerary. 2em 

of the decorative arts of past ages have excited more interest than that of enamelling on metals. This doubtless has been due in no small degree to the beauty and brilliancy of the colours exhibited by the objects so ornamented, and the difficulty and ingenuity of the manipulation employed in the process itself. The attention, on the present occasion, will be directed to a class of enamels peculiarly interesting,