lakes are many and large some of 60. 80. 100. and 200. miles long with breadth proportionate The chief riuers are these 1. Volgha that hath his head or spring at the roote of an Aldertree about 200. verst aboue Yaruslaue groweth so big by the encrease of other riuers by that time it commeth thither that it is broad an English mile and more and so runneth into the Caspian sea about 2800. verst or miles of length The next is Boristhenes now called Neper that diuideth the countrie from Lituania and falleth into the Euxin sea The third Tanais or Don the auncient bounder betwixt Europe and Asia that taketh his head out of Rezan Ozera and so running through the countrie of the Chrim Tartar falleth into the great sea lake or meare called Maeotis by the Citie of Azou By this riuer as the Russe reporteth you may passe from their citie Mosko to Constantinople and so into all those partes of the world by water drawing your boate as their manner is ouer a little Isthmus or narrow slippe of lande a fewe versts ouerthwart Which was proued not long since by an Ambassadour sent to Constantinople who passed the riuer of Moskua and so into an other called Ocka whence he drew his boate ouer into Tanais and thence passed the whole way by water The fourth is called Duyna many hundred miles long that falleth Northward into the Baye of Saint Nicholas and hath great Alabaster rockes on the bankes towards the sea side The fifth Duna that emptieth into the Baltick sea by the towne Riga The sixt Onega that falleth into the Bay at Solouetsko 90. verst from the port of Saint Nicholas This riuer below the towne Cargapolia meeteth with the riuer Volock that falleth into the Finland sea by the towne Yama So that from the port of S. Nicholas into the Finland sea and so into the Sound you may passe all by water as hath bene tried by the Russe The seuenth Suchana that floweth into Duyna and so into the North sea The eight Ocka that fetcheth his head from the borders of the Chrim streameth into Volgha The ninth Moskua that runneth thorough the citie Mosko and giueth it the name There is Wichida also a very large and long riuer that riseth out of Permia and falleth into Volgha All these are riuers of very large streames the least to be compared to the Thames in bignesse and in length farre more besides diuers other The Pole at Mosko is 55. degrees 10. minutes At the porte of S. Nicholas towards the North 63. degrees and 50 minutes The natiue commodities of the Countrie The 3. Chapter FOr kindes of fruites they haue Appels Peares plummes cheries redde and blacke but the blacke wild a deene like a muske millian but more sweete pleasant cucumbers goords which they call Arbouse rasps strawberies and hurtilberies with many other bearies in great quantitie in euery wood and hedge Their kindes of graine are wheat rie barley oates pease buckway psnytha that in taste is somewhat like to rice Of all these graynes the countrie yeeldeth very sufficient with an ouerplus quantitie so that wheate is solde sometime for two alteens or ten pence starling the Chetfird which maketh almost three English bushels Their rye is sowed before the winter all their other graine in the spring time for the most parte in May. The Permians and some other that dwell far north and in desert places are serued from the partes that lye more Southward and are forced to make bread sometimes of a kinde of roote called Vaghnoy and of the middle rine of the firre tree If there be any dearth as they accounted this last yeare An. 1588. wheat and rye beyng at 13. alteens or 5. shillings 5. pence starling the Chetfird the fault is rather in the practise of their Nobilitie that vse to engrosse it then in the countrie it selfe The natiue commodities of the countrie wherewith they serue both their owne turnes and sende much abroad to the great enriching of the Emperour and his people are many and substantiall First furres of all sortes Wherein the prouidence of God is to be noted that prouideth a naturall remedie for them to helpe the naturall inconuenience of their countrie by the colde of the Clymat Their chiefe furres are these Blacke fox Sables Lusernes Dunne fox Martrones Gurnestalles or Armins Lasets or Miniuer Beuer Wuluerins the skin of a great water Ratte that smelleth naturally like muske Calaber or Gray squirrell red squirrell red white Foxe Besides the great quantitie spent within the countrie the people beyng clad all in furres the whole winter there are transported out of the countrie some yeares by the marchants of Turkie Persia Bougharia Georgia Armenia and some other of Christendome to the value of foure or fiue hundred thousand rubbels as I haue heard of the Marchants The best Sable furre groweth in the countrie of Pechora Momgosorskoy and Obdorskoy the worser sort in Siberia Perm and other places The blacke fox and redde come out of Siberia white dun from Pechora whence also come the white wolfe and white Beare skin The best Wuluerin also thence and from Perm The best Martrons are from Syberia Cadam Morum Perm and Cazan Lyserns Mineuer and Armins the best ar out of Gallets and Ouglites many from Nouogrod and Perm The Beauer of the best sort breedeth in Murmonskey by Cola. Other cōmon furres and most of these kindes grow in many and some in all partes of the countrie The second cōmoditie is of Wax whereof hath bene shipped into forraine countries as I haue heard it reported by those that best know it the summe of 50000. pood yearlie euery pood conteyning 40. pound but now about 10000. pood a yeare The third is their Hony whereof besides an exceeding great quantitie spent in their ordinary drinks which is mead of al sorts their other vses some good quantitie is carried out of the countrie The chiefe encrease of honie is in Mordua Cadam neare to the Cheremissen Tartar much out of Seuerskoy Rezan Morum Cazan Dorogobose Vasma Fourthly of Tallow they afoord a great waight for transportation not only for that their countrie hath very much good ground apt for pasturage of cattaile but also by reason of their many Lents and other fastes and partly because their greater menne vse much waxe for their lightes the poorer and meaner sorte birch dried in their stoaues and cut into long shiuers which they call Luchineos Of tallow there hath bene shipped out of the realme a fewe yeares since about a 100000. pood yearely now not past 30000. or thereabonts The best yeeld of tallow is in the parts territories of Smolensko Yaruslaue Ouglits Nouogrod and Vologda Otfer and Gorodetskey An other principall commoditie is their Losh and Cowe hide Their Losh or Buffe hide is very faire and large Their bull and cowe hide for oxen they make none neyther
or wood dogge the Lyserne the Beauer the Sable the Martron the blacke and dunne Foxe the white Beare towardes the Sea coast of Pechora the Gurnstale the Laset or Mineuer They haue a kinde of Squirrel that hath growing on the pinion of the shoulder bone a long tuft of haire much like vnto feathers with a farre broader tayle then haue any other squirrels which they moue shake as they leape from tree to tree much like vnto a wing They skise a large space and seeme for to flie withall and therefore they call them Letach Vechshe that is the flying squirrels Their hares and squirrels in Sommer are of the same colour with ours in winter the Hare changeth her coate into milke white the squirrell into gray whereof commeth the Calaber They haue fallow Deere the roe Bucke and goates very great store Their horses are but small but very swift and harde they trauell them vnshod both winter and Sommer without all regard of pace Their sheepe are but small and beare coorse and harsh wooll Of foule they haue diuers of the principall kindes First great store of Hawkes the Eagle the Gerfaulcon the Slightfaulcon the Goshawke the Tassel the Sparhawk c. But the principall hawke that breedeth in the countrey is counted the Gerfaulcon Of other foules their principall kinds are the swanne tame and wilde where of they haue great store the Storke the Crane the Tedder of the colour of a Feasant but farre bigger and liueth in the firre woods Of Feasant and Partridge they haue very great plentie An owle there is of a very great bignesse more vglie to beholde then the owles of this countrey with a broade face eares much like vnto a man For fresh water fish besides the common sorts as Carpe Pikes Pearch Tench Roach c. they haue diuers kinds very good delicate as the Bellouga or Bellougina of 4. or 5. elnes long the Ositrina or Sturgeō the Seueriga Sterledy somewhat in fashion and taste like to the Sturgeon but not so thicke nor long These 4. kinds of fish breed in the volgha are catched in great plenty serued thence into the whole Realme for a great food Of the Roes of these foure kinds they make very great store of Icary or Caueary as was said before They haue besides these that breed in the volgha a fish called the Riba bela or white salmon which they account more delicate thē they do the redde salmon wherof also they haue exceeding great plentie in the riuers northward as in Duyna the riuer of Cola c. In the Ozera or lake neere a towne called Perislaue not far frō the Mosko they haue a smal fish which they call the fresh herring of the fashion and somewhat of the taste of a Sea-hearing Their chiefe townes for fish are Yaruslaue Bealozera Nouogrod Astracan and Cazan which all yeeld a large custome to the Emperour euery yeere for their trades of fishing which they practise in Sommer but send it frozen in the Winter time into all partes of the Realme The chiefe Cities of Russia The 4. Chapter THE chiefe Cities of Russia are Mosko Nouograd Rostoue Volodomer Plesko Smolensko Iaruslaue Perislaue Nisnouograd vologda Vstiuck Golmigroe Cazan Astracan Cargapolia Columna The citie of Mosko is supposed to be of great antiquitie though the first founder be vnknowen to the Russe It seemeth to haue takē the name from the riuer that runeth on the one side of the town Berosus the Chaldean in his 5. book telleth that Nimrod whom other prophane stories cal Saturn sēt Assyrius Medus Moscus Magog into Asia to plant Colonies there and that Moscus planted both in Asia and Europe Which may make some probability that the city or rather the riuer whereon it is built tooke the denomination from this Moscus the rather bicause of the climate or situation which is in the very farthest part and list of Europe bordering vpon Asia The citie was much enlarged by one Euan or Iohn sonne to Daniel that first changed his title of Duke into King though that honour continued not to his posterity the rather because he was inuested into it by the Popes Legate who at that time was Innocentius the fourth about the yeere 1246. which was very much misliked by the Russe people being then a part of the Easterne or Greeke Church Since that time the name of this citie hath growen more famous and better knowen to the worlde insomuch that not onely the prouince but the whole countrey of Russia is tearmed by some by the name of Moscouia the Metropolite citie The forme of this citie is in manner round with three strong walles circuling the one within the other and streets lying betweene wherof the inmost wall and the buildings closed within it lying safest as the heart within the bodie fenced and watred with the riuer Moskua that runneth close by it is all accounted the Emperours castle The number of houses as I haue heard through the whole citie being reckoned by the Emperour a little before it was fired by the Chrim was 41500 in all Since the Tartar besieged and fired the town which was in the yeare 1571. there lieth waste of it a great breadth of ground which before was well set and planted with buildings specially that part on the south side of Moskua built not long before by Basilius the Emperour for his garrison of souldiours to whom he gaue priuiledge to drinke Mead Beer at the drye or prohibited times when other Russes may drinke nothing but water and for that cause called this newe citie by the name of Naloi that is skinck or poure in So that now the Citie of Mosko is not much bigger then then the citie of London The next in greatnes and in a manner as large is the citie Nouograde where was committed as the Russe saith the memorable warre so much spoke of in stories of the Scythian seruants that tooke armes against their maisters which they report in this sort vz. That the Boiarens or Gentlemen of Nouograde and the territorie about which onely are souldiers after the discipline of those countries had warre with the Tartars Which being well perfourmed and ended by thē they returned homewards Where they vnderstood by the way that their Cholopey or bondslaues whome they left at home had in their absence possessed their townes lands houses wiues and all At which newes being somewhat amased and yet disdayning the villanie of their seruants they made the more speed home and so not farre from Nouograd met them in warlike manner marching against them Whereupon aduising what was best to bee done they agreed all to set vpon them with no other shewe of weapon but with their horse whips which as their manner is euery man rideth withall to put them in remembrance of their seruile condition thereby to terrifie them abate their courage And so marching on lashing altogither with their whips in their hands they
OF THE RVSSE Common Wealth OR MANER OF GOuernement by the Russe Emperour commonly called the Emperour of Moskouia with the manners and fashions of the people of that Countrey ⸪ The Contents are noted in the Table set downe before the beginning of the Booke AT LONDON Printed by T. D. for Thomas Charde 1591 To the Queenes most excellent Maiestie MOst gracious Soueraigne beeyng employed in your Maiesties seruice to the Emperour of Russia I obserued the State and manners of that Countrey And hauing reduced the same into some order by the way as I returned I haue presumed to offer it in this smal Booke to your most excellent Maiestie My meaning was to note thinges for mine owne experience of more importaunce then delight and rather true then strange In their maner of gouernment your Highnesse may see both A true and strange face of a Tyrannical state most vnlike to your own without true knowledge of GOD without written Lawe without common iustice saue that which proceedeth from their Speaking Lawe to wit the Magistrate who hath most neede of a Lawe to restraine his owne iniustice The practise hereof as it is heauy and grieuous to the poore oppressed people that liue within those Countreyes so it may giue iust cause to my selfe and other your Maiesties faithfull subiects to acknowledge our happines on this behalfe and to giue God thankes for your Maiesties most Prince-like and gracious gouernment as also to your Highnesse more ioy and contentment in your royall estate in that you are a Prince of subiectes not of slaues that are kept within duetie by loue not by feare The Almightie stil blesse your Highnes with a most long and happy reigne in this life and with Christ Iesus in the life to come Your Maiesties most humble subiect and seruant G. Fletcher The sum of this discourse conteining the 1. Cosmographie of the Countrie 1. The breadth and length of the Countrie with the names of the Shires 2. The Soyle and Clymate 3. The natiue commodities of the Countrie 4. The chiefe cities of Russia 2. Pollicy 1. The ordering of their State 5. The house or stocke of the Russe Emperour 6. The maner of inauguration of the Russe Emperours 7. The forme or manner of their publique gouernment 8. Their Parliamentes and manner of holding them 9. The Russe Nobilitie and meanes whereby it is kept in an vnder proportion agreeable to that State 10. The manner of gouerning their Prouinces or Shires 11. The Emperours priuie Counsell 12. The Emperours Customes and other Reuenues what they amount vnto with the Sophismus practised for the encrease of them 13. The Russe communaltie their condition 2. Their iudicial procecding 14. Their publique Iustice and manner of proceeding therein 3. Their warlike prouisions 15. The Emperours forces for his warres with the officers and their Salaries 16. Their manner of mustering armour prouision for vittaile encamping c. 17. Their order in marching charging and their martiall discipline 18. Their colonies and pollicie in mainteyning their purchases by conquest 19. Their borderers with whom they haue 20. most to doo in warre and peace 4. Their Ecclesiastical State 21. Their Church offices and degrees 22. Their Leiturgie or forme of Church seruice with their manner of administring the Sacraments 23. The doctrine of the Russe Church 24. Their manner of solemnizing marriages 25. The other Ceremonies of the Russe Church 3. Oeconomie or priuat behauiour 26. The Emperours domestique or priuate behauiour 27. The Emperours houshold and offices of his house 28. The priuate behauiour and manners of the Russe people The description of the Countrie of Rusâ—ia with the breadth length and names of the Shires The I. Chapter THe countrie of Russia was sometimes called Sarmatia It chaunged the name as some do suppose for that it was parted into diuerse small and yet absolute gouernments not depending nor being subiect the one to the other For Russe in that tongue doth signifie asmuch as to parte or diuide The Russe reporteth that foure brethren Trubor Rurico Sinees and Variuus diuided among them the North parts of the countrie Likewise that the Southpartes were possessed by foure other Kio Scieko Choranus and their sister Libeda each calling his territorie after his owne name Of this partition it was called Russia about the yeare from Christ 860. As for the coniecture which I find in some Cosmographers that the Russe nation borrowed the name of the people called Roxellani and were the very same nation with them it is without all good probabilitie both in respect of the etymologie of the word which is very far fet and especially for the seat and dwelling of that people which was betwixt the two riuers of Tanais and Boristhenes as Strabo reporteth quite an other way from the countrey of Russia When it bare the name of Sarmatia it was diuided into two chiefe parts the White and the Blacke The White Sarmatia was all that part that lieth towardes the North and on the side of Liestand as the Prouinces now called Duyna Vagha Vstick Vologda Cargapolia Nouogradia c whereof Nouograd velica was the Metropolite or chiefe cittie Blacke Sarmatia was all that countrey that lieth Southward towards the Euxin or Black Sea as the dukedome of Volodemer of Mosko Rezan c. Some haue thought that the name of Sarmatia was first taken from one Sarmates whom Moses and Iosephus call Asarmathes sonne to Ioktan and nephew to Heber of the posteritie of Sem. But this seemeth to be nothing but a coniecture taken out of the likenes of the name Asarmathes For the dwelling of all Ioktans posteritie is described by Moses to haue beene betwixt Mescha or Masius an hill of the Amonites and Sephace neare to the riuer Euphrates Which maketh it very vnlikely that Asarmathes should plant any colonies so far off in the North and Northwest countries It is bounded Northward by the Lappes and the North Ocean On the Southside by the Tartars called Chrimes Eastward they haue the Nagaian Tartar that possesseth all the countrie on the East side of Volgha towards the Caspian sea On the West and Southwest border lie Lituania Liuonia and Polonia The whole country being now reduced vnder the gouernment of one coÌ„teyneth these chief Prouinces or Shires Volodemer which beareth the first place in the Emperours stile because their house came of the Dukes of that countrey Mosko Nisnouogrod Plesko Smolensko Nouogrod velica or Nouogrod of the low countrey Rostoue Yaruslaue Bealozera Bezan Duyna Cargapolia Meschora Vagha Vstuga Ghaletsa These are the naturall shires preteyning to Russia but far greater larger then the shires of England though not so well peopled The other countries or prouinces which the Russe Emperours haue gotten perforce added of late to their other dominion are these which follow Twerra Youghoria Permia Vadska Boulghoria Chernigo Oudoria Obdoria Condora with a great part of Siberia where the people though they be not natural
gaue the onset Which seemed so terrible in the eares of their villaines and stroke such a sense into them of the smart of the whip which they had felt before that they fled altogether like sheepe before the driuers In memory of this victory the Nouogradiās euer since haue stāped their coine which they cal a dingoe Nouogrodskoy currāt through al Russia with the figure of a horseman shaking a whip a loft in his hand These two cities exceed the rest in greatnes For strength their chief townes are Vobsko Smolensko Cazan Astracan as liyng vpon the borders But for situation Iaruslaue farre exceedeth the rest For besides the commodities that the soyle yeeldeth of pasture corne it lieth vpon the famous river Volgha looketh ouer it frō a high banke very faire stately to behold wherof the towne taketh the name For Iaruslaue in that tongue signifieth as much as a faire or famous bāke In this towne as may be ghessed by the name dwelt the Russe king vlademir sirnamed Iaruslaue that married the daughter of Harald king of England by mediation of Sueno the Dane as is noted in the Danish storie about the yeare 1067. The other townes haue nothing that is greatly memorable saue many ruines within their walles Which sheweth the decrease of the Russe people vnder this gouernment The streates of their cities and townes in steed of pauing are planked with firre trees plained and layed euen close the one to the other Their houses are of wood without any lime or stone built very close and warm with sirre trees plained and piled one vpon an other They are fastened together with dentes or notches at euery corner and so clasped fast together Betwixt the trees or timber they thrust in mosse whereof they gather plentie in their woods to keepe out the ayre Euery house hath a paire of staiers that lead vp into the chambers out of the yarde or streat after the Scottish manner This building seemeth farre better for their countrie then that of stone and bricke as being colder and more dampish then their woodden houses specially of firre that is a dry and warme wood Whereof the prouidence of God hath giuen them such store as that you may build a faire house for twentie or thirtie rubbels or little more where wood is most scant The greatest inconuenience of their woodden building is the aptnes for firing which happeneth very oft and in very fearful sort by reason of the drinesse and fatnesse of the firre that being once fired burneth like a torch and is hardly quenched till all be burnt vp Of the house or stocke of the Russe Emperours The 5. Chapter THe syrname of the imperiall house of Russia is called Beala It tooke the originall as is supposed from the Kinges of Hungarie Which may seeme the more probable for that the Hungarian Kings many yeares agoe haue borne that name as appeareth by Bonfinius and other stories written of that countrie For about the yeare 1059 mention is made of one Beaela that succeeded his brother Andreas who reduced the Hungarians to the Christian faith from whence they were fallen by atheisme and Turkish perswasion before The second of that name was called Beala the blinde after whom succeeded diuers of the same name That their auncestrie came not of the Russe nation Iuan vasilowich father to this Emperour would many times boast disdaining as should seeme to haue his progenie deriued from the Russe bloud As namely to an Englishman his goldsmith that had receiued bullion of him to make certain plate whom the Emperour commaunded to looke well to his waight For my Russes sayd he are theeues all Whereat the workeman looking vpon the Emperour began to smile The Emperour being of quicke conceipt charged him to tell him what he smiled at If your Maiestie will pardon me quoth the goldsmith I will tell you Your highnesse said that the Russes were all theeues and forgot in the meane while that your selfe was a Russe I thought so quoth the Emperour but thou art deceiued For I am no Russe my auncestors were Germanes for so they account of the Hungarians to be part of the Germane natiō though in deed they come of the Hunnes That inuaded those countries and rested in those parts of Pannonia now called Hungary How they aspired to the Dukedome of Volodemer which was their first degree and ingrafting into Russia and whether it were by cōquest or by marriage or by what other meanes I could not learne any certentie among them That from these beginnings of a small Dukedome that bare notwithstanding an absolute gouernment with it as at that time did also the other Shires or Prouinces of Russia this house of Beala spred it selfe foorth and aspired by degrees to the monarchie of the whole countrie is a thing well knowen and of very late memorie The chiefe of that house that aduaunced the stocke and enlarged their dominions were the three last that raigned before this Emperour to wit Iuan Basileus Iuan father to the other that raigneth at this time Wherof the first that tooke vnto him the name and title of Emperour was Basileus father to Iuan grandfather to this man For before that time they were contented to be called great Dukes of Mosko What hath bene done by either of these three and how much they haue added to their first estate by conquest or otherwise may bee seene in the chapter of their colonies or purchases perforce For the cōtinuance of the race this house of Beala at this present is in like case as are many of the greatest houses of Christendome vz. the whole stocke and race concluded in one two or some fewe of the bloud For besides the Emperour that now is who hath no childe neither is like euer to haue for ought that may be coniectured by the constitution of his body and the barennesse of his wife after so many yeares marriage there is but one more vz. a child of sixe or seuen yeares old in whom resteth all the hope of the succession and the posteritie of that house As for the other brother that was eldest of the three and of the best towardnesse he died of a blowe giuen him by his father vpon the head in his furie with his walking staffe or as some say of a thrust with the prong of it driuen deepe into his head That he meant him no such mortall harme when hee gaue him the blow may appeare by his mourning and passion after his sonnes death which neuer left him till it brought him to the graue Wherein may be marked the iustice of God that punished his delight in shedding of bloud with this murder of his sonne by his owne hand and so ended his dayes and tyrannie together with the murdering of himselfe by extreame griefe for this his vnhappie and vnnaturall fact The Emperours yonger brother of sixe or seuen years old as was said before is kept in a remote
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 heare and determine in all ciuil matters within their precinct To which purpose they haue vnder them certeine officers as Gubnoy Starets or Coroners who besides the triall of selfe murders are to attach fellons and the Souldiae or vnder Iustices who themselues also may heare and determine in all matters of the same nature among the countrie people of their owne wardes or bayliwicks but so that in case either partie dissent they may appeale and goe farther to the Duke and Dyack that reside within the head towne From whom also they may remoue the matter to the higher court at Mosko of the Emperours Counsell where lie all appeales They haue vnder them also Sotskoy Starets that is Aldermen or Baliues of the hundreds Secondly in all criminall matters as theft murder treason c. they haue authoritie to apprehend to examine and to emprison the malefactor and so hauing receiued perfect euidence information of the cause they are to send it ready drawen and orderly digested vp to the Mosko to the officer of the Chetfird whereunto that Prouince is annexed by whom it is referred and propounded to the Emperours Counsell But to determine in any matter criminall or to doo executiō vpon the partie offending is more then their commission will allow them to doo Thirdly if there be any publike seruice to be done within that Prouince as the publishing of any Law or common order by way of proclamation collecting of taxes and impositions for the Emperour moistering 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 perteyne to their charge These Dukes Dyacks are appointed to their place by the Emperour himselfe are chaunged ordinarily at euery yeares end except vpō some special liking or suit the time be proroged for a yeare or two more They are men of themselues of no credite nor fauour with the people where they gouerne being neither borne nor brought vp among them not yet hauing inheritance of their owne there or els where Onely of the Emperour they haue for that seruice an 100. markes a yeare he that hath most some fiftie some but thirtie Which maketh them more suspected odious to the people because being so bare and comming fresh and hungrie vpon them lightly euery yeare they rack spoile them without all regard of iustice or conscience Which is easily tollerated by the chiefe officers of the Chetfirds to the end they may rob them againe haue a better bootie when they call them to account which cōmonly they doo at the end of their seruice making an aduātage of their iniustice oppression ouer the poore people There are few of them but they come to the Pudkey or whip when their time is ended which themselues for the most parte doo make account of And therefore they furnish themselues with all the spoile they can for the time of their gouernment that they may haue for both turnes aswel for the Emperour and Lord of the Chetfird as to reserue some good part for themselues They that are appointed to gouerne abroad are men of this qualitie saue that in the foure border townes that are of greatest importance are set men of more speciall valure and trust two in euery towne Wherof one is euer of the Emperours priuie counsell These foure border townes are Smolensko Vobsko Nouogrod Cazan whereof three lie towards the Polonian Sweden one bordereth far of vpon the Chrim Tartar These haue larger cōmission then the other Dukes of the Prouinces that I spake of before and may doo execution in criminall matters Which is thought behoofull for the Commonwelth for incident occasions that may happen vpon the borders that are far of may not stay for direction about euery occurrent and particular matter from the Emperour and his Counsell They are chaunged euery yeare except as before and haue for their stipend 700. rubbels a yeare hee that hath most some haue but 400 Many of these places that are of greatest importance almost the whole countrie is managed at this time by the Godonoes and their clients The citie of Mosko that is the Emperours seat is gouerned altogether by the Emperours Counsell All matters there both ciuill and criminall are heard and determined in the seuerall courtes held by some of the said Counsell that reside there all the yeare long Onely for their ordinary matters as buildings reparations keeping of their streates decent and cleane collections leuying of taxes impositions and such like are appointed two Gentlemen two Dyacks or Secretaries who hold a court together for the ordering of such matters This is called the Zempskey house If any townes man suspect his seruant of theft or like matter hither he may bring him to haue him examined vpon the Pudkey or other torture Besides these two Gentlemen and Secretaries that order the whole Citie there are Starusts or Aldermen for euerie seuerall companie The Alderman hath his Sotskey or Constable and the Constable hath certeine Decetskeis or Decurions vnder him which haue the ouersight of ten housholds a peece whereby euerie disorder is sooner spide and the common seruice hath the quicker dispach The whole number of Citizens poore and rich are reduced into companies The chiefe officers as the Dyacks and Gentlemen are appointed by the Emperour himselfe the Starust by the Gentlemen and Dyacks the Sotskoy by the Starust or Alderman and the Decetskoies by the Constables This manner of gouernment of their Prouinces and townes if it were aswell set for the giuing of iustice indifferently to al sorts as it is to preuent innouations by keeping of the Nobilitie within order and the commons in subiection it might seeme in that kinde to bee no bad nor vnpollitique way for the conteyning of so large a Common-wealth of that breadth and length as is the kingdome of Russia But the oppression and slauerie is so open and so great that a man would maruell how the Nobilitie and people shoulde suffer themselues to bee brought vnder it while they had any means to auoid and repulse it or being so strengthned as it is at this present how the Emperours themselues can be content to practise the same with so open iniustice and oppression of their subiects being themselues of a Christian profession By this it appeareth how harde a matter it were to alter the state of the Russe gouernment as now it standeth First because they haue none of the Nobilitie able to make head As for the Lords of the foure Chetfirds or Tetrarchies they are men of no Nobilitie but Dyacks aduanced by the Emperour depending on his fauour and attending onely about his owne person And for the Dukes that are appointed to gouern vnder them they are but men of a
Hares Hennes wild fowle Fish Hay Wood Honie c. Some are bound to sowe for the Emperours prouision certaine Akers of ground and to make the corne ready for his vse hauing for it an allowance of certaine akers of ground for their owne proper vse This prouision for the houshold specially of graine serued in by the Tenants is a great deale more then is spent in his house or in other allowance serued out in liuerie or for the Emperours honour called Schalouaney for which vse there is bestowed very much both in graine and other victuall This surplus of prouision is sold by the Steward to the best hand and runneth into the Emperours treasurie In the time of Iuan Vasilowich father to this Emperour who kept a more Princely bountiful house then the Emperour now doth this ouerplus of graine and other incomes into the Stewardes office yeelded to his treasurie not past 60. thousand rubbels yeerely but riseth now by good husbanding of the Steward Gregory Vasilowich Godonoe to 230. thousand rubbels a yere And this by the meanes of the Empresse and her kinred specially Borris Fedorowich Godonoe that account it al their owne that runneth into the Emperors treasure Much of this surplusage that riseth out of the rent prouision is emploied to the paimēt of the wages of his houshold officers which are very many attending at home and purueying abroad The second office of receipt called the Chetfirds being deuided into foure seuerall partes as before was sayde hath foure head officers which besides the ordering and gouernment of the shires conteyned within their seuerall Chedfirds haue this also as a part of their office to receiue the Tagla and Podat belonging to the Emperour that riseth out of the foure Chetfirds or Quarters The Tagla is a yeerely rent or imposition raysed vpon euery Wite or measure of graine that groweth within the land gathered by sworne men and brought into the office The Wite conteyneth sixtie Chetfirds Euery Chetfird is three bushelles English or little lesse The Podat is an ordinarie rent of money imposed vpon euerie soake or Hundred within the whole Realme This Tagla and Podat bring in yeerely to the Offices of the Chetfirdes a greate summe of money as may appeare by the particulars heere set downe The towne and Prouince of Vobsko pay yeerely for Tagla Podat about 18000. rubbels Nouogrod 35000. rubbels Torshocke Otfer 8000. rubbels Razan 30000. rubbels Morum 12000. rubbels Colmigroe and Duyna 8000. rubbels Vologda 12000. rubbels Cazan 18000 rubb Vstiug 30000. rubbels Rostoue 50000. The citie of Mosko 40000. rubbels Sibierskoy 20000. rubbels Castrome 12000. rubbels The totall amounteth to 400000. rubbels or markr a yeere which is brought in yeerely the first day of September that is reckoned by them the first day of the yeere The thirde that is called the Bulsha Prechod or great Income receyueth all the customes that are gathered out of all the priucipall townes and Cities within the whole Realme Besides the fees and other dueties which rise out of diuers smaller Offices which are all brought into this office of Bulsha Prechod The townes of moste trade that doe yeelde greatest custome are these heere sette downe Mosko Smolensko Vobsko Nouogrod Velica Strararouse Torshocke Otfer Yaruslaue Castrome Nesna Nouogrod Cazan Vologda This custome out of the great townes is therefore more certaine and easie to be reckoned because it is set and rated precisely what they shal pay for the custome of the yeere Which needes must bee paide into the saide office though they receiue not so much If it fal out to be more it runneth al into the Emperours aduantage The custome at Mosko for euerie yeere is 12000. rubbels The custome of Smolensko 8000. Vobsko 12000. rubbels Nouogrod velica 6000. rubbels Stararouse by salt and other commodities 18000. rubbels Torshock 800. rubbels Otfer 700. rubbels Yarusslaue 1200 rubbels Castrome 1800. rubbels Nesna Nouogrod 7000. rubbels Cazan 11000. rubbels Vologda 2000. rubbels The custome of the rest that are townes of trade is sometimes more sometimes lesse as their traffike and dealings with commodities too and fro falleth out for the yeere This may bee saide for certaine that the three tables of receipts belonging to this office of Bulsha Prechod when they receiue lest account for thus much vz. The first table 160000. rubbels The second table 90000. rubbels The third 70000. rubbels So that there commeth into the office of Bulsha Prechod at the least reckoning as appeareth by their bookes of customs out of these and other townes and maketh the summe of 340000. rubbles a yeere Besides this custome out of the townes of trade there is receiued by this office of Bulsha Prechod the yeerely rent of the common Bathstoaues Cabacks or drinking houses which pertein to the Emperour Which though it be vncertaine for the iust summe yet because it is certaine and an ordinary matter that the Russe wil bath himselfe aswel within as without yeeldeth a large rent to the Emperours treasurie There is besides a certeine mulct or penaltie that groweth to the Emperour out of euery iudgement or sentence that passeth in any of his courts of Record in all ciuill matters This penaltie or mulct is 20. Dingoes or pence vpon euery rubble or marke and so ten in the hundred Which is paide by the partie that is conuict by lawe Hee hath besides for euery name conteyned in the writs that passe out of these courts fiue Alteens An Alteen is fiue pence sterling or there abouts This is made good out of the office whence the writ is taken foorth Thence it goeth to the office that keepeth the lesser seale where it payeth as much more to the Emperours vse This riseth commonly to 3000. rubbels a yeere or thereabouts Farther also out of the office of Roisbonia where all fellonies are tried is receiued for the Emperour the halfe part of fellons goodes the other halfe goeth the one part to the informer the other to the officers All this is brought into the office of Bulsha Prechod or great income Besides the ouerplus or remainder that is saued out of the land rents allotted to diuers other offices as namely to the office called Roserade which hath landes and rentes assigned vnto it to pay the yeerely salaries of the souldiers or horsemen that are kept still in pay Which in time of peace when they rest at home not employed in anie seruice is commonly cut off and payde them by halfes sometimes not the halfe so that the remainder out of the Roserade Office that is layde into the Emperours treasurie commeth for the most part euerie yeere to 250000. rubbels In like sort though not so much is brought in the surplus out of the Strelletskoy offices which hath proper lands for the payment of the Strelsey men or gunners aswell those at Mosko that are of the Emperors gard 12000. in ordinary as on the borders and other garrison townes and castels Likewise
that few Princes would haue done in their greatest extremities He resigned his kingdome to one Velica Knez Simeon the Emperours sonne of Gazan as though hee meant to draw himselfe from al publike doings to aquiet priuat life Towards the end of the yeere hee caused this newe King to call in all Charters graunted to Bishoprickes and Monasteries which they had enioyed manie hundred yeeres before Which were all cancelled This done as in dislike of the fact and of the misgouernment of the newe King hee resumed his scepter and so was content as in fauour to the Church and religious men that they should renew their charters take them of himselfe reseruing and annexing to the Crowne so much of their lands as himselfe thought good By this practise hee wrung from the Bishoprickes and Monasteries besides the landes which he annexed to the Crowne an huge masse of money From some 40 from some 50 from some an hundred thousande rubbels And this aswell for the increase of his treasurie as to abate the ill opinion of his harde gouernment by a shewe of woorse in an other man Wherein his strange spirite is to bee noted that beyng hated of his subiectes as himselfe knew wel inough yet would venture such a practise to set an other in his saddle that might haue ridde away with his horse while himselfe walked by on foote 5 TO sende their messengers into the Prouinces or shires where the special commodities of their countrey grow as furres waxe hony c. There to forestall ingrosse somtime one whole commodity sometime two or more taking theÌ„ at smal prices what theÌ„selues list selling them againe at an excessiue rate to their own marchants and to marchants strangers If they refuse to buy them then to force them vnto it The like is done when any commoditie eyther natiue or forreine as cloth of golde broade cloth c thus engrossed by the Emperour and receiued into his treasurie happeneth to decay or marre by long lying or some other casualtie Which is forced vpon the Marchants to be bought by them at the Emperours price whether they will or no. This last yeere of 1589. was engrossed all the waxe of the countrey so that none might deale with that commoditie but the Emperour onely 6 TO take vp engrosse in like sort sometime forreine commodities as silkes cloth ledde pearle c. brought into his realm by Turkish marchants Armenians Bougharians Poles English and other And then to force his marchants to buy them of his officers at his owne price 7 TO make a Monopoly for the time of such coÌ„modities as are paid him for reÌ„t or custom to inhanse the price of theÌ„ as furres corn wood c. What time none must sell of the same kind of coÌ„modity til the Emperors be all sold By this means hee maketh of his rent corn other prouisioÌ„ of victual as before was said about 200000. rubb or marks a yeere Of his rent wood hay c. 30000. rubbels or thereabouts 8 IN euery great towne of his Realme he hath a Caback or drinking house where is sold aquavitae which they cal Russe wine mead beere c. Out of these hee receiueth rent that amounteth to a great summe of money Some yeeld 800 some 900 some a 1000 some 2000 or 3000. rubbels a yere Wherein besides the base and dishonourable meanes to encrease his treasurie many foule faultes are committed The poore labouring man and artificer manie times spendeth all from his wife and children Some vse to lay in twentie thirtie fourtie rubbels or more into the Caback and vowe themselues to the pot till all that be spent And this as he will say for the honour of Hospodare or the Emperour You shall haue manie there that haue drunk all away to the verie skinne and so walk naked whom they call Naga While they are in the Caback none may call them foorth whatsoeuer cause there be because he hindereth the Emperours reuenue 9 TO cause some of his Boiarens or Nobles of his court whom he vseth vpon trust that haue houses in the Mosko to faine them selues robbed Then to send for the Zemskâ—â— men or Aldermen of the citie and to commaund them to finde out the robberie In default of not finding it to praue or seasse the citie for their misgouernment in 8000. 9000. or 10000. rubbels at a time This is many times practised 10 IN these exactions to shew their soueraigntie sometime they vse very plaine and yet strange cauillations As was that of Iuan Vasilowich father to this Emperour after this sort He sent into Permia fot certaine loads of Cedar wood whereof hee knew that none grew in that Countrey The inhabitants returned answere they could find none there Whereupon hee seassed their Countrey in 12000. rubbels as if they coÌ„cealed the commoditie of purpose Againe he sent to the citie of Mosko to prouide for him a Colpack or measure full of liue fleas for a medicine They returned answere that the thing was impossible And if they could get them yet they could not measure them for leaping out Whereupon he praued or beat out of their shinnes 7000. rubbels for amulct By like cauillation hee extorted from his Nobilitie 30000. rubbels because he missed of his game when he went a hunting for the Hare as if their hunting and murdering of hares had bin the cause of it Which the Nobilitie as the manner is praued presently againe vpon the Mousicks or common people of the Countrie This may seeme a straunge kinde of extortion by such pleasant cauils to fliese his poore subiectes in good sadnesse but that it agreeth with the qualitie of those Emperours and the miserable subiection of that poore Countrie These and such like meanes are practised by the Emperours of Russia to encrease their Treasurie Of the state of the Communaltie or vulgar sorte of people in the countrie of Russia The 13. Chapter THE condition of the commons and vulgar sort of people may partly be vnderstood by that which already hath bin said concerning the maÌ„ner of their gouernment the state of the Nobilitie with the ordering of their Prouinces and chiefe townes of the land And first touching their libertie how it standeth with them it may appeare by this that they are reckoned in no degree at all nor haue any suffrage nor place in their Zabore or high court of Parliament where their lawes and publique orders are concluded vpon Which commonly tend to the oppression of the commons For the other two degrees vz of the Nobilitie and Cleargie whiche haue a vote in the Parliaments though farre from that libertie that ought to bee in common consultations for the publique benefite according to the measure and proportion of their degrees are well contented that the whole burden shall light vpon the commons so they may ease their owne shoulders by laying all vpon them Againe into what seruile condition their libertie is brought not onely to the
halfe part is paid them at the Mosko the other halfe in the field by the generall when they haue anie warres and are imployed in seruice When they receiue their whole pay it amounteth to 55000. rubbels by the yeere And this is their wages besides lands allotted to euery one of them both to the greater and the lesse according to their degrees Whereof he that hath least hath to yeeld him twentie rubbels or marks by the yeere Besides these 15000. horsemen that are of better choyce as being the Emperors own gard when himself goeth to the warres not vnlike the Romane souldiers called Praetoriani are a 110. men of special account for their Nobilitie and trust which are chosen by the Emperour and haue their names registred that find among them for the Emperours warres to the number of 65000. horsmen with all necessaries meet for the warres after the Russe manner To this end they haue yeerely allowance made by the Emperour for themselues and their companies to the summe of 40000. rubbels And these 65000 are to repaire to the field euery yeere on the borders towards the Chrim Tartar except they bee appoynted for some other seruice whether there be warres with the Tartars or not This might seeme peraduenture somwhat dangerous for some state to haue so great forces vnder the command of Noblemen to assemble euerie yeere to one certeine place But the matter is so vsed as that no danger can grow to the Emperour or his state by this meanes 1. Because these noblemen are manie to wit an 110. in all and changed by the Emperor so oft as he thinketh good 2. Because they haue their liuings of the Emperour being otherwise but of very small reuenue and receiue this yeerely pay of 40000. rubbels when it is presently to be paide foorth againe to the souldiers that are vnder them 3. Because for the most part they are about the Emperours person being of his Councel either speciall or at large 4. They are rather as paymasters then Captaines to their companies themselues not going forth ordinarily to the warres saue when some of them are appointed by speciall order from the Emperour himselfe So the whole number of horsemen that are euer in a readinesse and in continuall pay are 80000 a few more or lesse If hee haue neede of a greater number which seldome falleth out then he interteineth of those Sinaboiarskey that are out of pay so many as hee needeth and if yet hee want of his number he giueth charge to his Noblemen that hold lands of him to bring into the fielde euery man a proportionable number of his seruaunts called Kolophey such as till his lands with their furniture according to the iust number that he intendeth to make Which the seruice being done presently lay in their weapons and returne to their seruile occupations againe Of footmen that are in continuall pay he hath to the number of 12000. all Gunners called Strelsey Whereof 5000. are to attend about the Citie of Mosko or any other place where the Emperour shall abide and 2000. which are called Stremaney Stresley or Gunners at the stirrop about his owne person at the verie Court or house where himselfe lodgeth The rest are placed in his garrison Townes till there be occasion to haue them in the fielde and receiue for their salarie or stipend euery man seuen rubbels a yeere besides twelue measures a piece of Rye and Oates Of mercenarie Souldiers that are strangers whom they call Nimschoy they haue at this time 4300. of Polonians of Chirchasses that are vnder the Polonians about 4. thousand whereof 3500. are abroad in his garrisons of Doutches and Scots about 150 of Greekes Turks Danes and Sweadens all in one band an 100. or thereabouts But these they vse onely vpon the Tartar side and against the Siberians as they doe the Tartar souldiers whom they hire sometimes but onely for the present on the other side against the Polonian and Sweaden thinking it best pollicie so to vse their seruice vpon the contrary border The chiefe Captaines or leaders of these forces according to their names and degrees are these which follow First the Voyauodey Bulshaia that is the Great Captaine or Lieftenant generall vnder the Emperour This commonly is one of the foure houses of the chiefe Nobilitie of the lande but so chosen otherwise as that hee is of small valure or practise in martiall matters beeyng thought to serue that turne so much the better if hee bring no other partes with him saue the countenance of his Nobilitie to bee liked of by the souldiers for that and nothing els For in this poynt they are very warie that these two to wit nobilitie and power meet not both in one specially if they see wisedome with all or aptnesse for pollicie Their great Voiauod or Generall at this present in their warres is commonly one of these foure Knez Feodor Iuanowich Methissoskey Knez Iuan Michailowich Glinskoy Cherechaskoy and Trowbetskoy all of great Nobilitie but of very simple qualitie otherwise though in Glinskoy as they say there is somewhat more then in the rest To make vp this defect in the Voiauod or Generall there is some other ioyned with him as Lieftenant Generall of farre lesse nobilitie but of more valure and experience in the warres then he who ordereth all things that the other countenanceth At this time their principall man and most vsed in their warres is one Knez Demetrie Iuanowich Forestine an auncient and expert captaine and one that hath done great seruice as they say against the Tartar and Polonian Next vnder the Voiauod and his Lieftenant generall are foure other that haue the marshalling of the whole army deuided among them and may be called the marshals of the field Euery man hath his quarter or fourth part vnder him Whereof the first is called the Praua Polskoy or right wing The second is the Leuoy Polskoy or left wing The third is Rusnoy Polskoy or the broken bād because out of this there are chosen to send abroade vpon any sodaine exploit or to make a rescue or supply as occasion doth require The fourth Storeshouoy Polskoy or the warding bande Euery one of these foure Marshals haue two other vnder them eight in all that twise euery weeke at the least must muster and traine their seueral wings or bands and hold and giue iustice for all faultes and disorders committed in the campe And these eight are commonly chosen out of the 110. which I spake of before that receiue and deliuer the pay to the souldiers Vnder these eight are diuers other Captains as the Gul auoy Captaines of thousands fiue hundreds and 100. The Petyde Setskoy or Captaines of fifties and the Decetskies or Captaines of tennes Besides the Voiauoda or Generall of the Armie spoken of before they haue two other that beare the name of Voiauoda whereof one is the Master of the great Ordinance called Naradna
write himselfe now The great Commaunder of Siberia The countries likewise of Permia and Pechora are a diuers people and language from the Russe ouercome not long since and that rather by threatning and shaking of the sword then by any actuall force as being a weake and naked people without meanes to resist That which the Russe hath in his present possession hee keepeth on this sorte In his foure chiefe border townes of Vobsko Smolensko Astracan and Cazan he hath certeine of his Counsell not of greatest nobilitie but of greatest trust which haue more authoritie within their precincts for the countenauncing and strengthning of their gouernment there then the other Dukes that are set to gouerne in other places as was noted before in the manner of ordering their Prouinces These hee chaungeth sometime euery yeare sometime euery second or third yeare but exceedeth not that time except vpon very speciall trust and good liking of the partie and his seruice least by enlarging of their time they might grow into some familiaritie with the enimie as some haue done being so farre out of sight The townes besides are very strongly fenced with trenches castels and store of munition and haue garrisons within them to the nūber of two or three thousand a piece They are stoared with vittaile if any siege should come vpon them for the space of two or three yeares before hande The foure Castels of Smolensko Vobsko Cazan and Astracan he hath made very strong to beare out any siege so that it is thought that those townes are impregnable As for the countries of Pechora and Permia and that part of Siberia which he hath now vnder him they are kept by as easie meanes as they were first got vz. rather by shewing then by vsing of armes First hee hath stoared the Countrie with as manie Russes as there are natiues and hath there some fewe souldiers in garrison inough to to keepe them vnder Secondly his officers and Magistrates there are of his owne Russe people and hee chaungeth them very often vz. euery yeare twise or thrise notwithstanding there bee no great feare of any innouation Thirdly he deuideth them into many small gouernments like a staffe broke in many small pieces so that they haue no strength beyng seuered which was but litle neyther when they were all in one Fourthly hee prouideth that the people of the Countrie haue neither armour nor monie beyng taxed and pilled so often as hee thinketh good without any means to shake of that yoke or to relieue themselues In Siberia where he goeth on in pursuing his conquest he hath diuers castles and garrisons to the nūber of six thousand souldiers of Russes and Polonians and sendeth many new supplies thither to plant and to inhabite as he winneth ground At this time besides he hath gotten the kings brother of Siberia allured by certeine of his Captaines to leaue his owne countrie by offers of great intertainement and pleasanter life with the Russe Emperour then he had in Siberia He was brought in this laste yeare and is now with the Emperour at Mosko well interteyned This may be sayd of the Russe practize wheresoeuer he ruleth either by right of inheritance or by conquest First he berieueth the countrie of armour other means of defence which he permitteth to none but to his Botarskies onely Secondly he robbeth them continually of their monie and commodities and leaueth them bare with nothing but their bodies and liues within certeine yeares compasse Thirdly he renteth and deuideth his territories into many small pieces by seuerall gouernments so that none hath much vnder him to make any strength though he had other oportunities Fourthly he gouerneth his Countries by men of small reputation no power of themselues and straungers in those places where their gouernment lieth Fiftly he chaungeth his gouernours once a yeare ordinarily that there grow no great liking nor intiernesse betwixt the people and them nor acquaintance with the enemy if they lie towards the borders Sixtly he appointeth in one and the same place aduersarie gouernours the one to bee as Controller of the other as the Dukes and Diacks where by meanes of their enuies and emulations there is lesse hurt to bee feared by their agreement and himselfe is better infourmed what is done amisse Seuenthly he sendeth many times into euery Prouince secrete messengers of speciall trust about him as intelligences to prie and harken out what is doing and what is a misse there And this is ordinary though it be sodaine and vnknowen what time they will come Of the Tartars and other borderers to the Countrie of Russia with whome they haue most to doo in warre and peace The 19. Chapter THeir neighbours with whom they haue greatest dealings intercourse both in peace warre are first the Tartar Secondly the Polonian whom the Russe calleth Laches noting the first author or founder of the Nation who was called Laches or Leches whervnto is added Po which signifieth People so is made Polaches that is the People or posteritie of Laches which the Latines after their manner of writing call Polanos The third are the Swedens The Polonians and Swedens are better knowen to these partes of Europe then are the Tartars that are farther of from vs as being of Asia and diuided into many tribes different both in name and gouernment one from another The greatest and mightiest of them is the Chrim Tartar whom some call the Great Cham that lieth South and Southeastward from Russia and doth most annoy the Countrie by often inuasions commonly once euery yeare sometimes entring very farre within the inland parts In the yeare 1571. he came as farre as the citie of Mosko with an armie of 200000. men without any battaile or resistance at all for that the Russe Emperour then Iuan Vasilowich leading foorth his armie to encounter with him marched a wrong way but as it was thought of very purpose as not daring to aduenture the fielde by reason that hee doubted his nobilitie and chiefe Captaines of a meaning to betray him to the Tartar The citie he tooke not but fired the Subburbs which by reason of the buildinges which is all of wood without any stone brick or lime saue certein out roomes kindled so quickly and went on with such rage as that it cōsumed the greatest part of the citie almost within the space of foure houres being of 30. miles or more of compasse Then might you haue seene a lamētable spectacle besides the huge mighty flame of the citie all on light fire the people burning in their houses and streates but most of all of such as laboured to passe out of the gates farthest from the enemie where meeting together in a mightie throng and so pressing euery man to preuent another wedged themselues so fast within the gate and streates neare vnto it as that three ranks walked one vpon the others head the vppermost treading downe those that were
lower so that there perished at that time as was sayd by the fire the presse the number of 800000 people or more The Chrim thus hauing fired the Citie and fedde his eyes with the sight of it all on a light flame returned with his armie and sent to the Russe Emperour a knife as was sayd to sticke himselfe withall obbraiding this losse his desperate case as not daring either to meet his enimy in the fielde nor to trust his friends or subiects at home The principall cause of this continual quarell betwixt the Russe and the Chrim is for the right of certeine border parts claimed by the Tartar but possessed by the Russe The Tartar alleageth that besides Astracan Cazan that are the ancient posessiō of the East Tartar the whole countrie from his bounds North and Westward so farre as the citie of Mosko and Mosko it selfe perteineth to his right Which seemeth to haue bene true by the report of the Russes thēselues that tell of a certeine homage that was done by the Russe Emperour euery yeare to the Great Chrim or Cham the Russe Emperour standing on foote feeding the Chrims horse himselfe sitting on his back with oates out of his owne cap in stead of a boule or maunger that within the castle of Mosko And this homage they say was done til the time of Basileus grandfather to this man Who surprising the Chrim Emperor by a stratagem done by one of his Nobilitie called Iuan Demetrowich Belschey was content with this raunsome vz with the chaunging of this homage into a tribute of furres which afterwards also was denied to be paied by this Emperours father Hereupon they continue the quarrell the Russe defending his countrie and that which he hath wonne the Chrim Tartar inuading him once or twise euery yeare sometime about Whitsontide but oftener in Haruest What time if the great Cham or Chrim come in his owne person he bringeth with him a great armie of 100000. or 200000. men Otherwise they make shorte and sudden roads into the countrie with lesser numbers running about the list of the border as wild geese flie inuading and retiring where they see aduantage Their common practise being very populous is to make diuers armies so drawing the Russe to one or two places of the frontiers to inuade at some other place that is left without defence Their manner of fight or ordering of their forces is much after the Russe manner spoken of before saue that they are all horsemen and carrie nothing els but a bow a sheafe of arrowes and a falcon sword after the Turkish fashion They are very expert horsmē vse to shoot as readily backward as forward Some wil haue a horsmans staffe like to a bore speare besides their other weapons The cōmon souldier hath no other armour then his ordinary apparel vz a blacke sheeps skin with the wooll side outward in the day time inward in the night time with a cap of the same But their Morseys or Noblemen imitate the Turke both in apparel armour When they are to passe ouer a riuer with their armie they tie three or foure horses together taking long poles or pieces of wood bind them fast to the tails of their horse so sitting on the poles they driue their horse ouer At handie strokes when they come to ioyne battaile they are accounted farre better men then the Russe people fearse by nature but more hardie blouddy by continuall practise of warre as men knowing no artes of peace nor any ciuill practise Yet their subtiltie is more then may seeme to agree with their barbarous condition By reason they are practised to inuade continually and to robbe their neighbours that border about them they are very pregnant and ready witted to deuise stratageams vpō the suddaine for their better aduantage As in their warre against Beala the fourth king of Hungarie whome they inuaded with 500000. men obteined against him a great victorie Where among other hauing slaine his Chauncellor called Nicholas Schinick they founde about him the Kings priuie seale Whereupon they deuised presently to counterfait letters in the Kings name to the cities and townes next about the place where the field was foughtt with charge that in no case they should conuey themselues and their goods out of their dwellings where they might abide safely without all feare of daunger and not leaue the coūtrie desolate to the possession of so vile barbarous an enimie as was the Tartar nation terming themselues in all reprochfull manner For notwithstanding he had lost his carriages with some fewe straglers that had marched disorderly yet hee doubted not but to recouer that losse with the accesse of a notable victorie if the sauage Tartar durst abide him in the fielde To this purpose hauing written their letters in the Polish character by certaine young men whom they tooke in the field signed them with the Kings seale they dispatched them foorth to all the quarters of Hungarie that lay neare about the place Whereupon the Vngarians that were now flying away with their goods wiues children vpō the rumour of the Kings ouerthrow taking comfort of these counterfait letters stayed at home And so were made a pray being surprised on the suddaine by this huge number of these Tartars that had cōpassed them about before they were aware When they besiege a towne or fort they offer much parle and sende many flattering messages to perswade a surrendry promising all things that the inhabitants will require but beyng once possessed of the place they vse all manner of hostilitie and erueltie This they doo vppon a rule they haue vz that Iustice is to be practised but towardes their owne They encounter not lightly but they haue some ambush wherevnto hauing once shewed themselues and made some short cōflict they retire as repulfed for feare and so draw the enimie into it if they can But the Russe being wel acquainted with their practise is more warie of them When they come a rouing with some small number they set on horsebacke counterfait shapes of men that their number may seeme greater When they make any onset their manner is to make a great shoote crying all out together Olla Billa Olla Billa God helpe vs God helpe vs. They contemne death so much as that they chuse rather to die then to yeeld to their enimie and are seene when they are slaine to bite the very weapon when they are past striking or helping of themselues Wherein appeareth how different the Tartar is in his desperate courage from the Russe and Turke For the Russe Souldier if he begin once to retire putteth all his safety in his speedie flight And if once he be taken by his enemie he neyther defendeth himselfe nor intreateth for his life as reckoning straight to die The Turke commonly when he is past hope of escaping falleth to intreatie and casteth awaie his weapon offereth both his handes
charge of them ouer to the Archbishops besides the ordering of their owne diocesse Their Archbishops are foure of Smolensko Cazon Vobsko and Vologda The partes of their office is all one with the Metropolits saue that they haue an vnder iurisdiction as Suffraganes to the Metropolites and superiours to the Bishops The next are the Vladikeis or Bishops that are but sixe in all of Crutitska of Rezan of Otfer and Torshock of Collomenska of Volodemer of Susdalla These haue euery one a very large diocesse as diuiding the rest of the whole countrie among them The matters perteyning to the Ecclesiasticall iurisdiction of the Metropolites Archbishops and Bishops are the same in a manner that are vsed by the Cleargie in other partes of Christendome For besides their authoritie ouer the Cleargie and ordering such matters as are meare Ecclesiasticall their iurisdiction extendeth to all testamentarie causes matters of marriage and diuorcementes some pleas of iniuries c. To which purpose also they haue their Officials or Commissaries which they call Boiaren Vladitskey that are Lay-men of the degree of Dukes or Gentlemen that keepe their Courtes and execute their iurisdiction Which besides their other oppressions ouer the common people raigne ouer the Priestes as the Dukes Diacks doo ouer the poore people within their precincts As for the Archbishop or Bishop himselfe he beareth no sway in deciding those causes that are brought into his Court. But if hee would moderate any matter hee must doo 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 himselfe or his Counsell and are to giue account of their doings to none but to them If the Bishoppe can intreat at his admission to haue the choice of his owne officiall it is accounted for a speciall great fauour But to speake it as it is the Cleargie of Russia aswell concerning their landes and reuenues as their authoritie and iurisdiction are altogether ordered and ouer ruled by the Emperour and his Counsell and haue so much and no more of both as their pleasure doth permit thē They haue also their assistants or seuerall Counsels as they call them of certeine Priests that are of their diocesse residing within their cathedrall cities to the number of foure and twentie a piece These aduise with them about the speciall and necessarie matters belonging to their charge Concerning their rentes and reuenues to mainteyne their dignities it is somewhat large The Patriarches yearely rents out of his landes besides other fees is about 3000. rubbels or markes The Metropolites and Archbishops about 2500. The Bishops some a 1000. some 800. some 500 c. They haue had some of them as I haue heard say ten or twelue thousand rubbels a yeare as had the Metropolite of Nouograde Their habite or apparell when they shewe themselues in their Pontificalibus after their solemnest manner is a miter on their heades after the popish fashion sette with pearle and pretious stone a cope on their backes commonly of cloth of golde embrodered with pearle and a Crosiers staffe in their handes layed ouer all with plate of siluer double guilt with a crosse or sheepheardes crooke at the vpper ende of it Their ordinarie habite othewise when they ride or goe abroad is a hood on their heads of blacke colour that hangeth downe their backes and standeth out like a bongrace before Their vpper garment which they call Reis is a gowne or mantell of blacke Damaske with many listes or gardes of white Sattin layed vpon it euerie garde about two fingers broad and their Crosiers staffe carried before them Themselues followe after blessing the people with their two forefingers with a marueilous grace The election and appointing of the Bishops and the rest perteyneth wholy to the Emperour himselfe They are chosen euer out of the Monasteries so that there is no Bishop Archbishop nor Metropolite but hath bene a Monke or Frier before And by that reason they are and must all bee vnmaried men for their vow of chastitie when they were first shorne When the Emperour hath appointed whom hee thinketh good he is inuested in the Cathedrall church of his dioces with many ceremonies much after the manner of the Popish inauguration They haue also their Deanes their Archdeacons As for preaching the worde of God or any teaching or exhorting such as are vnder them they neyther vse it nor haue any skill of it the whole Cleargie beyng vtterlie vnlearned bothe for other knowledge and in the word of God Onely their manner is twise euery yeere vz. the first of September which is the first day of their yere and on S. Iohn Baptists day to make an ordinarie speach to the people euery Metropolite Archbishop and Bishop in his Cathedrall Church to this or like effect That if anie be in malice towardes his neighbour hee shall leaue off his malice if any haue thought of treason or rebellion against his Prince he beware of such practise if he haue not kept his fasts and vowes nor done his other dueties to the holie Church he shal amend that fault c. And this is a matter of forme with them vttered in as many words and no more in a manner then I haue heere set downe Yet the matter is done with that grace and solemnitie in a pulpit of purpose set vp for this one Acte as if he were to discourse at large of the whole substance of diuinitie At the Mosko the Emperour himselfe is euer present at this solemne exhortation As themselues are voyde of all maner of learning so are they warie to keepe out all meanes that might bring any in as fearing to haue their ignorance and vngodlinesse discouered To that purpose they haue perswaded the Emperours that it would breed innouation and so danger to their state to haue anie noueltie of learning come within the Realme Wherein they say but trueth for that a man of spirit and vnderstāding helped by learning and liberal education can hardly indure a tyrannicall gouernment Some yeres past in the other Emperors time there came a Presse and Letters out of Polonia to the citie of Mosko where a printing house was set vp with great liking allowance of the Emperour himselfe But not long after the house was set on fire in the night time and the presse and letters quite burnt vp as was thought by the procurement of the Cleargy men Their Priestes whom they call Papaes are made by the Bishops without any great triall for worthinesse of giftes before they admit them or ceremonies in their admission saue that their heades are shorne not shauen for that they like not about an hand bredth or more in the crowne and that place annoynted with oyle by the Bishop who in his admission putteth vpon the priest first his surplesse and then setteth a white crosse on his brest of silke or some