The theme of the article is in line with the so-called imagology (area of research, studying the problems of national images in the literary tradition). The article considers an interesting episode of Russian and English cultures contact, which occurred at the beginning of the XVIIth century, at the end of Elizabethan age. We mean the G.I. Mikulin’s mission to England (16001601) and some of the features of Russian perceptions of England in that great era. In addition to attempts to show Russian image of England, the article focuses on the image of the Russians themselves, in particular in the eyes of Queen Elizabeth I, who, apparently, was interested in Russian culture and was disposed to the members of the mission, gave them audiences, invited them to share the royal meal and to participate in the different holidays and royal entertainments. From the article it can be concluded that the widespread view in our literature that the Europeans (and the English in particular) imagined the Russian of the pre-Petrine era solely as barbarians is not so unequivocal and that there was a different trend - the pursuit of mutually respectful and equitable relations and even some kind of affection. It should be emphasized that this affection was mutual, and on the Russian side, we see generally very loyal and benevolent attitude towards England and the English. Thus, in this case we deal with yet another shining example of the positive cultural dialogue between Russian and Western culture in pre-Petrine times.