Slight Joys and Great Hardships of the Pskov Road in the Description of the Participants of the English Embassy in 1664

The paper is devoted to the events associated with the travel of the English embassy of Charles Howard, 1st Earl of Carlisle, along the roads of the Pskov border area in 1664, after the completion of his diplomatic mission in Moscow. The diary of a member of the embassy, Guy Miege, serves as an important source for reconstructing the main route of movement of diplomats from Moscow to the border of Swedish possessions in Livonia. The route is unusual for English diplomats and for this reason they note many minutiae that have escaped the sight of other travelers. The author of the diaries characterizes road infrastructure, life of travelers, formation of the image of the Russian road and the country itself in the minds of foreigners on the eve of reforms of Peter the Great. The English celebrate the richness of nature and the presence of both land and water routes, thanks to the vast network of rivers and lakes in the region. The relative backwardness of the road infrastructure in compare with the western border region compensated by the actions of Russian officials at the border, ensuring the comfort and safety of the English ambassador and his retinue.