proper as they say to the nation of the Iewes Onely the booke of Psalmes they haue in great estimation and sing and say them dayly in their Churches Of the new Testament they allow and read all except the Reuelation which therefore they read not though they allow it because they vnderstand it not neither haue the like occasion to know the fulfilling of the prophecies conteyned within it concerning especially the apostasie of the Antichristian Church as haue the Westerne Churches Notwithstanding they haue had their Antichrists of the Greeke Church and may finde their owne falling of and the punishments for it by the Turkish inuasion in the prophecies of that Booke Secondly which is the fountain of the rest of al their corruptiōs both in doctrine ceremonies they holde with the Papistes that their church Traditions are of equall authoritie with the written worde of God Wherein they prefer thēselues before other churches affirming that they haue the true and right traditions deliuered by the Apostles to the Greeke church and so vnto them 3. That the church meaning the Greeke and specially the Patriarch and his Synod as the head of the rest haue a soueraigne authoritie to interpret the Scriptures and that all are bound to holde that interpretation as sound and authentique 4. Concerning the diuine nature the three persons in the one substance of God that the holy Ghost proceedeth from the Father onely and not from the Sonne 5. About the office of Christ they holde many fowle errours and the same almost as doth the Popish church namely that hee is the sole mediatour of redemption but not of intercession Their chiefe reason if they bee talked withall for defence of this errour is that vnapt and foolish comparison betwixt God and a Monarch or Prince of this world that must bee sued vnto by Mediatours about him wherein they giue speciall preferment to some aboue others as to the blessed Virgin whom they call Precheste or vndefiled and S. Nicôlas whom they call Scora pomosnick or the Speedy helper and say that he hath 300. angels of the chiefest appointed by God to attend vpon him This hath brought them to an horrible excesse of idolatry after the grossest prophanest māner giuing vnto their images al religious worship of praier thanksgiuing offerings adoration with prostrating and knocking their heads to the ground before thē as to God himself Which because they doo to the picture not to the portraiture of the Saint they say they worship not an idol but the Saint in his image so offend not God forgetting the cōmandement of God that forbiddeth to make the image or likenes of any thing for any religious worship or vse whatsoeuer Their church walles are very full of them richly hanged set forth with pearle stone vpō the smooth table Though some also they haue embossed that stick from the board almost an inch outwards They call them Chudouodites or their miracle workers and when they prouide them to set vp in their Churches in no case they may say that they haue bought the image but exchaunged monie for it 6. For the means of iustification they agree with the Papists that it is not by faith only apprehēding Christ but by their works also And that Opus operatum or the worke for the worke sake must needes please God And therefore they are all in their numbers of praiers fastes vowes offrings to saints almes deeds crossings such like and carrie their numbring beads about with them cōtinually aswel the Emperour his Nobilitie as the cōmon people not only in the church but in all other publike places specially at any set or solemne meeting as in their fastes lawe courts common consultations intertainement of Ambassadours and such like 7. They say with the Papists that no man can be assured of his saluation til the last sentence be passed at the day of iudgement 8. They vse auricular confession thinke that they are purged by the very action frō so many sinnes as they confesse by name and in particular to the Priest 9. They hold three sacramentes of Baptisme the Lords supper and the last annoiling or vnction Yet concerning their Sacrament of extreame vnction they holde it not so necessarie to saluation as they do baptisme but thinke it a great curse and punishment of God if any die with out it 10. They thinke there is a necessitie of baptisme and that all are condemned that die without it 11. They rebaptise as many Christians not being of the Greek church as they conuert to their Russe profession because they are diuided from the true Church which is the Greeke as they say 12. They make a difference of meates drinks accounting the vse of one to be more holy then of an other And therefore in their set fastes they forbeare to eate fleshe and white meats as we call them after the manner of the Popish superstition which they obserue so strictly with such blinde deuotion as that they will rather die then eat one bit of flesh egges or such like for the health of their bodies in their extreme sicknese 13. They hold marriage to be vnlawfull for all the Clergie men except the priests only and for them also after the first wife as was said before Neither doo they well allow of it in Lay men after the second marriage Which is a pretence now vsed against the Emperours only brother a child of six yeres old Who therefore is not praised for in their churches as their manner is otherwise for the Princes bloud because hee was borne of the sixt marriage and so not legitimate This charge was giuen to the priests by the Emperour himselfe by procurement of the Godonoes who make him beleeue that it is a good pollicie to turne away the liking of the people from the next successour Many other false opinions they haue in matter of religion But these are the chiefe which they holde partly by meanes of their traditions which they haue receiued from the Greeke church but specially by ignorance of the holy Scriptures Which notwithstanding they haue in the Polonian tongue that is all one with theirs some few wordes excepted yet fewe of them read them with that godly care which they ought to doo neither haue they if they would bookes sufficient of the old and new Testament for the common people but of their Leiturgie onely or booke of common seruice whereof there are great numbers All this mischief commeth from the clergie who being ignorant and godlesse themselues are very warie to keepe the people likewise in their ignorance and blindnesse for their liuing and bellies sake partly also frō the manner of gouernment setled among them which the Emperours whom it specially behoueth list not to haue chaunged by any innouation but to retaine that religion that best agreeth with it Which notwithstanding it is not
consultation concerning a league betwixt the Russe the Spaniard which was in some forwardnes at my comming to Mosko and already one appointed for Ambassage into Spaine was marred by means of the ouerthrow giuen to the Spanish king by her Maiestie the Queene of England this last yeare Which made the Russe Emperour and his Counsell to giue a sadder countenance to the English Ambassadour at that time for that they were disappointed of so good a policie as was this coniunction supposed to bee betwixt them and the Spanish His second purpose whereto the first serued as an introduction was in reuenge of the Turke and the Greeke cleargie that had thrust him from his seat to treate with them about the reducing of the Russe church vnder the Pope of Rome Wherein it may seeme that comming lately from Rome he was set on by the Pope who hath attempted the same many times before though all in vaine and namely in the time of the late Emperour Iuan Vasilowich by one Anthony his Legate But thought this belike a farre better meane to obteine his purpose by treatie and mediation of their owne Patriarch But this not succeeding the Patriarch fell to a third point of treatie concerning the resignation of his Patriarchship translation of the Sea from Constantinople or Sio to the citie of Mosko Which was so well liked and intertained by the Emperour as a matter of high religion pollicie that no other treatie specially of forrein Ambassages could be heard or regarded till that matter was concluded The reason wherewith the Patriarch perswaded the translating of his Sea to the citie of Mosko were these in effect First for that the Sea of the Patriarch was vnder the Turk that is enemie to the faith And therefore to bee remoued into some other countrie of Christian profession Secondly because the Russe church was the only naturall daughter of the Greeke at this time and holdeth the same doctrine ceremonies with it the rest being all subiect to the Turke and fallen away from the right profession Wherein the subtill Greeke to make the better market of his broken ware aduaunced the honour that would growe to the Emperour and his countrie to haue the Patriarches seat translated into the chief citie and seat of his Empire As for the right of translating the sea and appointing his successour hee made no doubt of it but that it perteyned wholy to himselfe So the Emperour his Counsell with the principall of his cleargie being assembled at the Mosko it was determined that the Metropolite of Mosko should become Patriarch of the whole Greeke Church and haue the samefull authoritie iurisdiction that perteined before to the Patriarch of Constantinople or Sio And that it might bee done with more order solemnitie the 25. of Ianuary 1588. the Greeke Patriarch accōpanied with the Russe Cleargie went to the great Church of Precheste or our Ladie within the Emperours castle hauing first wandred thorough the whole citie in manner of a procession and blessing the people with his two fingers where hee made an Oration and deliuered his resignation in an instrument of writing and so laied downe his Patriarchicall staffe Which was presently receiued by the Metropolite of Mosko and diuers other ceremonies vsed about the inauguration of this new Patriarch The day was holden very solemne by the people of the citie who were cōmaunded to forbeare their workes and to attend this solemnitie The great Patriarch that day was honoured with rich presents sent him from the Emperour and Empresse of plate cloth of gold furres c carried with great pompe thorough the streats of Mosko and at his departing receiued many giftes more both from the Emperour Nobilitie and Cleargie Thus the Patriarchship of Constantinople or Sio which hath continued since the Counsell of Nice is now translated to Mosko or they made beleeue that they haue a Patriarch with the same right and authoritie that the other had Wherin the subtil Greeke hath made good aduantage of their superstition and is now gone away with a rich bootie into Poland whither their Patriarchship be currant or not The matter is not vnlike to make some schisme betwixt the Greeke Russe Church if the Russe holde this Patriarchship that he hath so well payed for and the Greekes elect an other withall as likely they will whither this man were banished by the Turke or depriued by order of his owne Cleargie Which might happen to giue aduantage to the Pope to bring ouer the Russe Church to the sea of Rome to which end peraduenture he deuised this stratageam and cast in this matter of schisme among them but that the Emperours of Russia know well enough by the exāple of other christian Princes what inconuenience would grow to their state coūtrie by subiecting themselues to the Romish sea To which ende the late Emperour Iuan Vasilowich was very inquisitiue of the Popes authority ouer the Princes of christendome sent one of very purpose to Rome to behold the order behauior of his court With this Patriarch Hieronimo was driuen out at the same time by the great Turke one Demetrio Archbishop of Larissa who is now in England pretendeth the same cause of their banishment by the Turke to wit their not admitting of the Popes new Kalender for the alteration of the yeare Which how vnlikely it is may appeare by these circumstances First because there is no such affection nor friendlie respect betwixt the Pope the Turke as that he should banish a subiect for not obeying the Popes ordināce specially in a matter of some sequele for the alteration of times within his owne countries Secondly for that he maketh no such scruple in deducting of times and keeping of a iust and precise account from the incarnatiō of Christ whom he doth not acknowledge otherwise then I noted before Thirdly for that the said Patriarch is now at Naples in Italy where it may be ghessed he would not haue gone within the Popes reach and so neare to his nose if he had bene banished for opposing himselfe against the Popes decree This office of Patriarchship now translated to Mosko beareth a superiour authoritie ouer all the Churches not onely of Russia other the Emperours dominions but thorough out all the churches of Christendome that were before vnder the Patriarch of Cōstantinople or Sio or at least the Russe Patriarch imagineth himselfe to haue the same authoritie Hee hath vnder him as his proper diocesse the Prouince of Mosko besides other peculiars His court or office is kept at the Mosko Before the creatiō of this new Patriarch they had but one Metropolite that was called the Metropolite of Mosko Now for more state to their Church and newe Patriarch they haue two Metropolites the one of Nouogrod velica the other of Rostoue Their office is to receiue of the Patriarch such Ecclesiasticall orders as he thinketh good and to deliuer the
man speaketh nor speaketh any thing himselfe worthie to be beleeued These qualities make theÌ„ very odious to all their neighbours specially to the Tartars that account themselues to be honest and iust in comparision of the Russe It is supposed by some that doe well consider of the state of both countries that the offence they take at the Russe gouernment and their maner of behauiour hath beene a great cause to keepe the Tartar still Heathenish and to mislike as he doeth of the Christian profession FINIS Strabo in his 7. booke of â—â—ogr Gen. 10. Ioseph l. 1. cap. 14. The borders of Russia The shires of Russia The Prouinces or countries got by conquest The bredth and length of the countrie The cold of Russia The chief riuers of Russia The fruites and graine of Russia The chiefe commodities of the countrie 1. Furres 2. Waxe 3. Hony 4. Tallow 5. Hide 6. Trane oyle The manner of hunting the Seal fish Ickary 9 8. Hempe and flaxe 9. Salt 10. Tarre 11. Ribazuba 12. Slude 13. Saltpeeâ—â—r brimstone 4. Iron The straÌ„ge â—â—â—sts fish foâ—le c. that breed in Russia Mosko Nouograde Iaruslaue The manner of Russe buylding The house Beala not naturall Russe The aduoncement of the house of Beala The Russe gouernment tyrannicall The States of Parliament The order of the summons or assembling Their discourse at ParliameÌ„t The Vdelney Knazey chiefe of the Nobilitie The factioÌ„ of Oppressini Zempskey deuised by the Emperour Names of the greatest houses of the Russe Nobilitie The 2. degree of Nobilitie The 3. sort of Nobilitie The second degree of persons The third degree The foure Chetfirds The Commission of the Dukes or Presidents of Shires The Gouernment of Mosko An harde matter to alter the State of Russia The nuÌ„ber and names of the CouÌ„sellours of State Foure Secretaries The offices of receipt The Steward receiuer of the crowne laÌ„d rentes The office of Chetfird Tagla and Podat The office of Bulcha Prechod or great income The Emperours custome The whole receipt of the Bulsha Prechod or great income Rents out of the iudicial offices The Emperours treasure house within his castle of Mosko The summe of the Emperours reÌ„t money A strange practise to get money The seruile and miserable estate of the Russe people The tyranny and oppression ouer their very minds and wits The ielousie of the Emperour concerning his state Courts of ciuill iustice three The Dukes and Diacks Court The high Court of Mosko Their maÌ„ner of procedeing in Ciuill matters Ending of controuersies by kissing the Crosse Iudgement by lotte The forme of Russe bils or bonds Proceeding in criminall matters Souldiers by birth inheritaÌ„ce Degrees of horsemen 1. Praetoriaenior such as attend the Emperours person 15000. Two other troupes to the number of 65000. Horsemen in coÌ„tinuall pay 80000. Footmen in continuall pay 12000. Strangers mercenaries in pay 4300. The chiefe captaines or leaders 1. The Voiauod or Generall 2. Liefetenant generall 3. Marshals of the field foure Foure marshals deputies 8. Fiue Cotonels vnder Captaines Sixe Masters of the Artillerie The waking Captaine Their order for mustering The horsemans furniture The footemans furniture Prouision of victuall Horsemens drummes The horsemans manner of charging The footemans charge The walking Castle Reward for valure Lituania Narue Permia and Pechora Meanes of holding his chiefe townes Meanes of holding the countries of Pechora Permia and Siberia The Polonians called Laches by the Russe The Chrim Tartar The firing of Mosko by the Chrim Tartar in the yeare 1571. Homage done by the Russe to the Chrim Tartar The manner of the Tartars fight and armour The subtiltie of the Tartar The Tartar religion The Tartar Nobilitie The Tartar dyet The Tartars dwelling The Nagay Tartar the cruellest The Chircasce the ciuilest Tartar The Cheremissen Tartar The Mordwite Tartar the most barbarous of the rest The Permans The Samoites The Samoites religion Slata Baba or the golden Hag. The Samoits habite and behauiour The Lappes The church officers The Patriarch The translation of the Patriarchicall sea from Constantinople or Sio to Mosko The Patriarchship of Constantinople translated to Mosko The Patriarches iurisdiction The Metropolites Archbishops Bishops Ecclesiasticall iurisdiction Their Gentlemen coÌ„missaries The church reuenues The habite of their clergy men The electioÌ„ of Bishops The learning exercise of the Russe Clergie Priests The Russe Priests can marry but once The priests maintenance The priests attire Friers Their maner of shiring Friers The Friers learning Nunneries Eremites Basileo the Eremite Nicôla the Eremite Their morning Seruice Their Euening seruice The manner of the Russe baptisme Rebaptizing The administring of the Lords supper The Russe errours 1. Their disallowing of certeine parts of the Canonicall scriptures 2. Traditions equall to the holy Scripture 3. The Church to haue soueraigne authoritie in interpreting the Scriptures 4. The holy Ghost to proceed froÌ„ the Father onely 5. Christ not sole mediator of intercessioÌ„ 6. Iustification by workes 7. Saluation vncerteine 8. Auricular confession 9. Three SacrameÌ„ts 10. All daÌ„ned that die without baptisme 11. Anabaptisme 12. Difference of meates 13. Marriage for some persons vnlawfull The manner of indowment for wiues Ceremonies in mariages The signe of the crosse Holywater Hallowing of riuers Drinking of holy water Brewing with holy water Palmsunday Fasts Vigils Burials Moneths mindes His priuate prayer The Emperour giueth presence euery morning The Emperours seruice at his Table Maister of the Horse The L. Steward The L. Tresurer Controller Chamberlaine Tasters HarbeÌ„gers Gentlemen of the chaÌ„ber The Gard. Grooms Constitution of their bodies Their diet The Noble mans attire The Gentlemans apparell The Noble womans attire The Mousicks or coÌ„mon mans attire Their wits and capacities Crueltie of the Russe people Intemperancie