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lxxxiv acquainted with this and other countries of Europe but little known at that period, and for this purpose was required to learn the Russian language. The archduke had especially begged permission for him to travel into the interior of the kingdom, and even to venture as far as the Obi.

It was not found advisable in Moscow, however, through the general distrust of foreigners which still prevailed there, to favour such a journey, the reason being assigned that the Obi was too distant, and the difficulties of such a journey for a foreigner much too great, as even the officers who were sent to bring the tribute of those parts had always to contend with the greatest difficulties on the road. Snups now wished to return through Turkey or Poland; but this, too, was denied him, under the pretence of the great insecurity of the journey; and nothing more remained for him than to make his return by the way he had come, namely, through Livonia and Germany. The letters in reply, which the grand-prince intrusted to him for Maximilian, are dated the 5th of January 1493, and copies of them exist among the archives at Moscow.

The original of Michael Snups narrative of his travels is probably still to be found in Innspruck or Vienna.

After the battle against the Livonians, near Pleskov’, on the 7th of September 1501, which