have the same full authoritie and jurisdiction that pertained before to the Patriarch of Constantinople or Sin And that it might be done with more order and solemnitie the 25. of Januarie 1588. the Greek Patriarch accompanied with the Russe Clergie went to the great Church of Precheste or our Ladie within the Emperours castle having first wandred through the whole citie in manner of a procession and blessing the people with his two fingers where he made an Oration and delivered his resignation in an instrument of writing and so layed down his Patriarchicall staff which was presently received by the Metropolite of Mosko and divers other ceremonies used about the inauguration of this new Patriarch The day was holden very solemn by the people of the citie who were commanded to forbear their works 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 pomp through the streets of Mosko and at his departing received many gifts more both from the Emperour Nobilitie and Clergie Thus the Patriarchship of Constantinople or Sio which hath continued since the Councel of Nice is now translated to Mosko or they made believe that they have a Patriarch with the same right and authoritie that the other had Wherein the subtil Greek hath made good advantage of their superstition and is now gone away with a rich bootie into Poland whether their Patriarchship be currant or not The matter is not unlike to make some schisme betwixt the Greek and Russe Church if the Russe hold this Patriarchship that he hath so well payed for and the Greeks elect another withall as likely they will whether this man were banished by the Turk or deprived by order of his own Clergie Which might happen to give advantage to the Pope and to bring over the Russe Church to the Sea of Rome to which end peradventure he devised this stratagem and cast in this matter of schisme among them but that the Emperours of Russia know well enough by the example of other Christian Princes what inconvenience would grow to their state and countrey by subjecting themselves to the Romish Sea To which end the late Emperour Juan Vasilowich was very inquisitive of the Popes authoritie over the Princes of Christendome and sent one of very purpose to Rome to behold the order and behaviour of his Court. With this Patriarch Hieronimo was driven out at the same time by the great Turk one Demetrio Archbishop of Larissa who is now in England and pretendeth the same cause of their banishment by the Turk to wit their not admitting of the Popes new Kalender for the alteration of the year Which how unlikely it is may appear by these circumstances First because there is no such affection nor friendly respect betwixt the Pope and the Turk as that he should banish a subject for not obeying the Popes ordinance specially in a matter of some sequele for the alteration of times within his own countreys Secondly for that he maketh no such scruple in deducting of times and keeping of a just and precise account from the incarnation of Christ whom he doth not acknowledge otherwise then I noted before Thirdly for that the said Patriarch is now at Naples in Italie where it may be ghessed he would not have gone within the Popes reach and so near to his nose if he had been banished for opposing himself against the Popes decree This office of Patriarchship now translated to Mosko beareth a superiour authoritie over all the Churches not onely of Russia and other the Emperours dominions but throughout all the Churches of Christendome that were before under the Patriarch of Constantinople or Sio or at least the Russe Patriarch imagineth himself to have the same authoritie He hath under him as his proper diocesse the Province of Mosko besides other peculiars His court or office is kept at the Mosko Before the creation of this new Patriarch they had but one Metropolite that was called the Metropolite of Mosko Now for more state to their Church and new Patriarch they have two Metropolites the one of Novogrod velica the other of Rostove Their office is to receive of the Patriarch such Ecclesiasticall orders as he thinketh good and to deliver the charge of them over to the Archbishops besides the ordering of their own diocesse Their Archbishops are foure of Smolensko Cazan Vobsko and Vologda The parts of their office is all one with the Metropolites save that they have an under jurisdiction as Suffragans to the Metropolites and superiours to the Bishops The next are the Uladikeis or Bishops that are but six in all of Crutiska of Rezan of Otfer and Torshock of Collomenska of Volodemer of Susdalla These have every one a very large diocesse as dividing the rest of the whole countrey among them The matters pertaining to the Ecclesiasticall jurisdiction of the Metropolites Archbishops and Bishops are the same in a manner that are used by the Clergie in other parts of Christendome For besides their authoritie over the Clergie and ordering such matters as are mere Ecclesiasticall their jurisdiction extendeth to all testamentarie causes matters of marriage and divorcements some pleas of injuries c. To which purpose also they have their Officials or Commissaries which they call Boiaren Uladitskey that are Laymen of the degree of Dukes or Gentlemen that keep their Courts and execute their jurisdiction Which besides their other oppressions over the common people reigne over the Priests as the Dukes and Diacks do over the poore people within their precincts As for the Archbishop or Bishop himself he beareth no sway in deciding those causes that are brought into his Court But if he would moderate any matter he must do it by intreatie with his Gentleman Officiall The reason is because these Boiarskey or Gentlemen Officials are not appointed by the Bishops but by the Emperour himself or his Councel and are to give account of their doings to none but to them If the Bishop can intreat at his admission to have the choice of his own Officiall it is accounted for a speciall great favour But to speak it as it is the Clergie of Russia as well concerning their lands and revenues as their authoritie and jurisdiction are altogether ordered and overruled by the Emperour and his Councel and have so much and no more of both as their pleasure doth permit them They have also their assistants or severall Councels as they call them of certain Priests that are of their diocesse residing within their cathedrall cities to the number of foure and twentie a piece These advise with them about the speciall and necessarie matters belonging to their charge Concerning their rents and revenues to maintain their dignities it is somewhat large The Patriarchs yearly rents out of his lands besides other fees is about 3000. rubbels or marks The Metropolites and Archbishops about 2500. The Bishops
the cause of their assembly and the principall matters that they are to consider of For to propound bills what every man thinketh good for the publick benefit as the manner is in England the Russe Parliament alloweth no such custome nor libertie to subjects The points being opened the Patriarch with his Clergie men have the prerogative to be first asked their vote or opinion what they think of the points propounded by the Secretarie Whereto they answer in order according to their degrees but all in one form without any discourse as having learned their lesson before that serveth their turns at all Parliaments alike whatsoever is propounded Commonly it is to this effect That the Emperour and his Councell are of great wisdome and experience touching the policies and publick affairs of the Realm and farre better able to judge what is profitable for the commonwealth then they are which attend upon the service of God â—â—ely and matters of religion And therefore it may please them to proceed That instead of their advise they will aid them with their prayers as their duties and vocations do require c. To this or like effect having made their answers every man in his course up standeth some Abbot or Frier more bold then the râ—st yet appointed beforehand as a matter of form and desireth the Emperour it would please his Majestie to command to be delivered unto them what his Majesties own judgement and determinate pleasure is as touching those matters propounded by his Dyake Whereto is replyed by the said Secretarie in the Emperours name That his Highnesse with those of his noble Councell upon good and sound advise have found the matters proposed to be very good and necessarie for the commonwealth of his Realm Notwithstanding for as much as they are religious men and know what is right his Majestie requireth 〈◊〉 godly opinions yea and their censures too for the approving or correcting of the said propositions And therefore desireth them again to speak their minds freely And if they shall like to give their consents that then the matters may passe to a full conclusion Hereunto when the Clergie men have given their consents which they use to do without any great pausing they take their leaves with blessing of the Emperour who bringeth the Patriarch on his way so farre as the next room and so returneth to his seat till all be made readie for his return homeward The acts that thus are passed by the Zabore or Parliament the Dyakeis or Secretaries draw into a form of proclamation which they send abroad into every Province and head town of the Realm to be published there by the Dukes and Dyakeis or Secretaries of those places The session of Parliament being fully ended the Emperour inviteth the Clergie men to a solemn dinner And so they depart every man to his home CHAP. IX Of the Nobilitie and by what means it is kept in an under proportion agreeable to that State THe degrees of Persons 〈…〉 of Russia besides the sovereigne State or Emperour himself are these in their order 1. The Nobilitie which is of foure sorts Whereof the chief for birth 〈◊〉 and revenue are called the Udelney Knazey that is the exempt or priviledged Dukes These held sometime a severall jurisdiction and absolute authoritie within their precincts much like unto the States or Nobles of Germany But afterwards reserving their rights upon composition they yielded themselves to the house of Beala when it began to wax mightie and to enlarge it self by overmatching their neighbours Onely they were bound to serve the Emperour in his warres with a certain number of horse But the late Emperour Juan Vasilowich father to this prince being a man of high spirit and subtill in his kind meaning to reduce his government into a more strict form began by degrees to clip off their greatnesse and to bring it down to a lesser proportion till in the end he made them not onely his vassals but his Kâ—lophey that is his very villains or bondslaves For so they term and write themselves in any publick instrument or private petition which they make to the Emperour So that now they hold their authorities lands lives and all at the Emperours pleasure as the rest do The means and practise whereby he wrought this to effect against those and other of the Nobility so well as I could note out of the report of his doings were these and such like First he cast private emulations among them about prerogative of their titles and dignities Wherein he used to set on the inferiours to preferre or equall themselves to those that were accounted to be of the nobler houses Where he made his advantage of their malice and contentions the one against the other by receiving devised matter and accusations of secret practise and conspiracies to be intended against his person and state And so having singled out the greatest of them and cut them off with the good liking of the rest he fell at last to open practise by forcing of the other to yield their rights unto him 2 He divided his subjects into two parts or factions by a generall schisme The one part he called the Oppressini or Select men These were such of the Nobilitie and Gentrie as he took to his own part to protect and maintain them as his faithfull subjects The other he called Zempskey or the Commons The Zempskey contained the base and vulgar sort with such Noblemen and Gentlemen as he meant to cut off as suspected to mislike his government and to have a meaning to practise against him Wherein he provided that the Oppressini for number and qualitie of valour money armour c. farre exceeded the other of the Zempskey side whom he put as it were from under his protection so that if any of them were spoiled or killed by those of the Oppressini which he accounted of his own part there was no amends to be sought for by way of publick justice or by complaint to the Emperour The whole number of both parts was orderly registred and kept in a book so that every man knew who was a Zempskey man and who of the Oppressini And this libertie of the one part to spoil and kill the other without any help of Magistrate or law that continued seven years enriched that side and the Emperours treasurie and wrought that withall which he intended by this practise viz to take out of the way such of the Nobilitie as himself misliked whereof were slain within one week to the number of three hundred within the citie of Mosko This tyrannicall practise of making a generall Schisme and publick division among the subjects of his whole Realm proceeded as should seem from an extreme doubt and desperate fear which he had conceived of most of his Nobilitie and Gentlemen of his Realm in his warres with the Polonian and Chrim Tartar what time he grew into a vehement suspicion conceived of the ill successe of his affairs
Wich put under their sirname as Borris Federowich c. which is a note of honour that the rest may not usurp And in case it be not added in the naming of them they may sue the Bestchest or penaltie of dishonour upon them that otherwise shall term them The fourth and lowest degree of Nobilitie with them is of such as bear the name of Knazey or Dukes but come of the younger brothers of those chief houses through many descents and have no inheritance of their own save the bare name or title of Duke onely For their order is to deliver their names and titles of their dignities over to all their children alike whatsoever else they leave them So that the sonnes of a Voiavodey or Generall in the field are called Voiavodey though they never saw the field and the sonnes of a Knez or Duke are called Knazey though they have not one groat of inheritance or livelyhood to maintain themselves withall Of this sort there are so many that the plentie maketh them cheap so that you shall see Dukes glad to serve a mean man for five or six rubbels or marks a year and yet they will stand highly upon their Bestchest or reputation of their Honours And these are their severall degrees of Nobilitie The second degree of persons is of their Sina Boiarskey or the sonnes of Gentlemen which all are preferred and hold that name by their service in the Emperours warres being souldiers by their very stock and birth To which order are referred their Dyacks or Secretaries that serve the Emperour in every head town being joyned in Commission with the Dukes of that place The last are their Commons whom they call Mousicks In which number they reckon their Merchants and their common artificers The very lowest and basest sort of this kind which are held in no degree are their countrey people whom they call Christianeis Of the Sina boiarskey which are all souldiers we are to see in the description of their forces and military provisions Concerning their Mousicks what their condition and behaviour is in the title or chapter Of the common people CHAP. X. Of the government of their Provinces and Shires THe whole countrey of Russia as was said before is divided into foure parts which they call Chetfirds or Tetrarchies Every Chetfird containeth divers shires and is annexed to a severall office whereof it takes the name The first Chetfird or Tetrarchie beareth the name of Pososkoy Chetfird or the Jurisdiction of the office of Ambassages and at this time is under the chief Secretarie and officer of the Ambassages called Andreas Shalcalove The standing fee or stipend that he receiveth yearly of the Emperour for this service is 100. rubbels or marks The second is called the Roseradney Chetfird because it is proper to the Roserade or high Constable At this time it pertaineth by virtue of office to Basilie Shalcolove brother to the Chancellour but it is executed by one Zapon Abramove His pension is an hundred rubbels yearly The third is the Chetfird of Pomestnoy as pertaining to that office This keepeth a Register of all lands given by the Emperour for service to his Noblemen Gentlemen and others giveth out and taketh in all assurances for them The officer at this time is called Eleazar Wellusgine His stipend is 500. rubbels a year The fourth is called Cassanskoy dworets as being appropriate to the office that hath the jurisdiction of the kingdomes of Cazan and Astracan with the other towns lying upon the Volgha now ordered by one Druzhine Pentcleove a man of very speciall account among them for his wisdome and promptnesse in matters of policie His pension is 150. rubbels a year From these Chetfirds or Tetrarchies is exempted the Emperours inheritance or Vochin as they call it for that it pertained from ancient time to the house of Beala which is the sirname of the imperiall bloud This standeth of 36. towns with their bounds or territories besidâ—â— divers peculiar jurisdictions which are likewise deducted out of those Chetfirds as the Shire of Vagha belonging to the Lord Borrise Federâ—wich Godonoe and such like These are the chief governours oâ— officers of the Provinces not resideâ—â— at their charge abroad but attending the Emperour whithersoever 〈◊〉 goeth and carrying their offices about with them which for the 〈◊〉 part they hold at Mosko as the Emperours chief seat The parts and practise of these foure officeo is to receive all complaints and actions whatsoever that are brought out of their severall Chetfirds and quarters and to inform them to the Emperours Counsell Likewise to send direction again to those that are under them in their said Provinces for all matters given in charge by the Emperour and his Counsell to be done or put in execution within their precincts For the ordering of every particular Province of these foure Chetfirds there is appointed one of these Dukes which were reckoned before in the lowest degree of their Nobilitie which are resident in the head towns of the said Provinces Whereof every one hath joyned with him in Commission a Dyack or Secretarie to assist him or rather to direct him For in the executing of their commission the Dyack doth all The parts of their Commission are these in effect First to hear and determine in all civill matters within their precinct To which purpose they have under them certain officers as Gubnoy Starets or Coroners who besides the triall of self-murders are to attach fellons and the Soudiae or under-Justices who themselves also may hear and determine in all matters of the same nature among the countrey people of their own wards or bayliwicks but so that in case either partie dissent they may appeal and go further to the Duke and Dyack that reside within the head town From whom also they may remove the matter to the higher court at Mosko of the Emperours Counsell where lie all appeals They have under them also Sotskey Starets that is Aldermen or Balives of the hundreds Secondly in all criminall matters as theft murder treason c. they have authoritie to apprehend to examine and to imprison the malefactour and so having received perfeâ—… evidence information of the cause they are to send it ready drawn and orderly digested up to the Mosko to the officer of the Chetfird whereunto that Province is annexed by whom it is referred and propounded to the Emperours Counsell But to determine in any matter criminall or to do execution upon the partie offending is more then their commission will allow them to do Thirdly if there be any publick service to be done within that Province as the publishing of any Law or common order by way of prodamation collecting of taxes and impositions for the Emperour mustering of souldiers and sending them forth at the day and to the place assigned by the Emperour or his Counsell all these and such like perâ—… to their charge These Dukes and Dyacks are appointed to their place by the Emperour
Chudovodites or their miracle-workers and when they provide them to set up in their Churches in no case they may say that they have bought the image but exchanged money for it 6. For the means of justification they agree with the Papists that it is not by faith onely apprehending Christ but by their works also and that Opus operatum or the work for the work sake must needs please God And therefore they are all in their numbers of prayers fasts vows and offerings to saints alms-deeds crossings and such like and carrie their numbring beads about with them continualy as well the Emperour and his Nobilitie as the common people not onely in the Church but in all other publick places specially at any set or solemn meeting as in their fasts law courts common consultations entertainment of Ambassadours and such like 7. They say with the Papists that no man can be assured of his salvation till the last sentence be passed at the day of judgement 8. They use auricular confession and think that they are purged by the very action from so many sinnes as they confesse by name and in particular to the Priest 9. They hold three Sacraments of Baptisme the Lords supper and the last an oyling or unction Yet concerning their Sacrament of extreme unction they hold it not so necessary to salvation as they do baptisme but think it a great curse and punishment of God if any die without it 10. They think there is a necessitie of baptisme and that all are condemned that die without it 11. They rebaptize as many Christians not being of the Greek church as they convert to their Russe profession because they are divided from the true church which is the Greek as they say 12. They make a difference of meats and drinâ—â— accounting the use of one to be more holy then of another And therefore in their set fasts they forbear to eat flesh and white meats as we call them after the manner of the Popish superstition which they observe so strictly and with such blind devotion 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 sicknesse 13. They hold marriage to be unlawfull for all the Clergie men except the priests onely and for them also after the first wife as was said before Neither do they well allow of it in Lay-men after the second marriage Which is a pretence now used against the Emperours onely brother a child of six years old who therefore is not prayed for in their Churches as their manner is otherwise for the Princes bloud because he was born of the sixth marriage and so not legitimate This charge was given to the priests by the Emperour himself by procurement of the Godonoes who make him believe that it is a good pollicie to turn away the liking of the people from the next successour Many other false opinions they have in matter of religion But these are the chief which they hold partly by means of their traditions which they have received from the Greek Church but specially by ignorance of the holy Scriptures Which notwithstanding they have in the Polonian tongue that is all one with theirs some few words excepted yet few of them read them with that godly care which they ought to do neither have they if they would books sufficient of the old and new Testament for the common people but of their Liturgie onely or book of common service whereof there are great numbers All this mischief cometh from the Clergie who being ignorant and godlesse themselves are very wary to keep the people likewise in their ignorance and blindnesse for their living and bellies sake partly also from the manner of government settled among which the Emperours whom it specially behoveth list not to have changed by any innovation but to retain that religion that best agreeth with it Which notwithstanding it is not to be doubted but that having the word of God in some sort though without the ordinary means to attain to a true sense and understanding of it God hath also his number among them As may partly appear by that which a Russe at Mosko said in secret to one of my servants speaking against their images and other superstitions That God had given unto England light to day and might give it to morrow if he pleased to them As for any inquisition or proceeding against men for matter of religion I could hear of none save a few years since against one man and his wife who were kept in a close prison the space of 28. years till they were overgrown into a deformed fashion for their hair nails colour of countenance and such like and in the end were burned at Mosko in a small house set on fire The cause was kept secret but like it was for some part of truth in matter of religion though the people were made to believe by the Priests and Friers that they held some great and damnable heresie CHAP. XXIV Of the manner of solemnizing their Marriages THe manner of making and solemnizing their marriages is different from the manner of other countries The man though he never saw the woman before is not permitted to have any sight of her all the time of his woing which he doth not by himself but by his mother or some other ancient woman of his kinne aswell by the parents as by the parties themselves for without the knowledge and consent of the parents the contract is not lawfull the fathers on both sides or such as are to them in stead of fathers with other chief friends having a meeting and conference about the dowrie which is commonly very large after the abilitie of the parents so that you shall have a market man as they call them give a 1000. rubbels or more with his daughter As for the man it is never required of him nor standeth with their custome to make any joynter in recompence of the dowrie But in case he have a child by his wife she enjoyeth a third deal after his decease If he have two children by her or more she is to have a courtesie more at the discretion of the husband If the husband depart without issue by his wife she is returned home to her friends without any thing at all save onely her dowrie if the husband leave so much behind him in goods When the agreement is made concerning the dowrie they signe bonds one to the other as well for the paiment of the dowrie as the performing of the marriage by a certain day If the woman were never married before her father and friends are bound besides to assure her a maiden Which breedeth many brabbles and quarrels at Law if the man take any conceit concerning the behaviour and honestie of his wife Thus the contract being made the parties begin to send tokens the one to the other the woman first then afterwards the man but yet seâ—