that they practised treason with the Polonian and Chrim Whereupon he executed some and devised this way to be rid of the rest And this wicked policy and tyrannous practise though now it be ceased hath so troubled that countrey and filled it so full of grâ—…dge and mortall hatred ever since that it will not be quenched as it seemeth now till it burn again into a civil flame 3 Having thus pulled them and seased all their inheritance lands priviledges c. save some very small part which he left to their name he gave them other lands of the tenure of Pomestnoy as they call it that are held at the Emperours pleasure lying farre off in another countrey and so removed them into other of his Provinces where they might have neither favour nor authoritie not being native nor well known there So that now these of the chief Nobilitie called Udelney Knazey are equalled with the rest save that in the opinion and favour of the people they are of more account and keep still the prerogative of their place in all their publick meetings Their practise to keep down these houses from rising again and recovering their dignities are these and such like First many of their heirs are kept unmarried perforce that the stock may die with them Some are sent into Siberia Cazan and Astracan under pretence of service and there either made away or else fast clapped up Some are put into Abbeys and shear themselves Friers by pretence of a vow to be made voluntary and of their own accord but indeed forced unto it by fear upon some pretended crime objected against them Where they are so guarded by some of speciall trust and the Covent it self upon whose head it standeth that they make no escape as that they have no hope but to end their lives there Of this kind there are many of very great Nobilitie These and such like wayes begun by the Emperour Juan Vasilowich are still practised by the Godonoes who being advanced by the marriage of the Empresse their kinswoman rule both the Emperour and his Realm specially Borris Federowich Godonoe brother to the Empresse and endeavour by all means to cut off or keep keep down all of the best and ancientest Nobilitie Whereof divers already they have taken away whom they thought likeliest to make head against them and to hinder their purpose as Knez Andreas Guraken Bulgatkove a man of great birth 〈◊〉 authority in the Countrey The like they have done with Peter Gollauni whom they put into a dungeon where 〈…〉 ended his life with Knez Vasilieury wich Golloâ—hen with Andrieu Juanowich Suskoy accounted among them for a man of a great wisdome So this last yeare was killed in a Monasterie whither they had thrust him on Kâ—… Juan Petrowich Saskoy a man of great valour and service in that Countrey who about five or six years since bare out the siege of the Citie Vobskn made by Stepan Batore King of Polonin with a 100000. men and repulsed him very valiantly with great honour to himself and his countrey and disgrace to the Polonian Also Micheta Romanowich uncle to the Emperour by the mothers side was supposed to have died of poyson or some liâ—e practise The names of these families of greatest Nobilitie are these in their order The first is of Knez Volâ—… which resteth at this time in one daughter a widow and without children mentioned before sometime wife to Hartock Magnus brother to the king of Denmark now closed within a nunnerie The 2. Knez Metheloskey thrust into a Frierie and his onely sonne kept from marriage to decay the house The 3. Cliâ—skoy But one left of his house and he without children save one daughter The 4. Suskoy whereof there are foure brethren young men and unmarried all The 5. Hubetskoy Of this house are foure living The 〈◊〉 Bulgalâ—y now called Guletchey house whereof are five living but youths all The 7. Vorallinskoy Two left of that stock The 8. Odokâ—key Two The 9. Telletskoy One The 10. Taytove Three These are the names of the chief families called Udelney Knazey that in effect have lost all now save the very name it self and favour of the people which is like one day to restore them again if any be left The 2. degree of Nobilitie is of the Boiarens These are such as the Emperour honoureth besides their nobilitie with the title of counsellers The revenue of these two soâ—â— of their Nobles that riseth out of their lands assigned them by the Emperour and held at his pleasure for of their own inheritance there is little left them as was said before is about a thousand marks a yeare besides pension which they receive of the Emperour for their service in his warres to the summe of 700 rubbles a yeare and none above that summe But in this number the lord Borris Federowich Godonoe is not to be reckoned that is like a Transcendent and in no such predicament with the rest being the Emperours brother in law his protectour for direction for command and authoritie Emperour of Russia His yearly revenue in land and pension amounteth to the summe of 93700. rubbels and more as appeareth by the particulars He hath of inheritance which himself hath augmented in Vasma Dorogobose six thousand rubbels a yeare For his office of Connick or master of the Horse 1200. rubbels or marks raised out of the Conaslue Sloboday or the liberties pertaining to that Office which are certain Lands and Towns near about the Mosko Besides all the meadow and pasture ground on both sides the bank of the river Mosko thirtie verst up the stream and fourtie verst downwards For his pension of the Emperour besides the other for his office 15000. rubbels Out of the Province or Shire of Vagha there is given him for a peculiar exempted out of the Chetfird of Posolskoy 32000. rubbels besides a rent of furres Out of Rezan and Sever another peculiar 30000. rubbels Out of Otfer and Turiock another exempt place 8000 rubbels For rent of Bathstoves and Bathing houses without the walls of Mosko 1500. rubbels Besides his pomest or lands which he holdeth at the Emperours pleasure which farre exceedeth the proportion of land allotted to the rest of the Nobilitie One other there is of the house of Glinskoy that dispendeth in land and pension about 40000. rubbels yearly Which he is suffered to enjoy because he hath married Borris his wives sister being himself very simple and almost a naturall The ordering of him and his lands are committed to Borris In the third rank are the Voyavodey or such Nobles as are or have been Generals in the Emperours warres Which deliver the honour of their title to their posterities also 〈◊〉 who take their place above the other Dukes and Nobles that are not of the two former sorts viz. of the Vdelney Knazey and of the Boiarens These three degrees of their Nobilitie to wit the Udelney knazey the Boiarens and the Voiavodey have the addition of
very great bignesse more ugglie to behold then the Owls of this countrey with a broad face and ears much like unto a man For fresh-water fish besides the common sorts as Carp Pikes Pearch Tench Roach c. they have divers kinds very good delicate as the Bellouga or 〈◊〉 of 4. or 5. â—â—ns long the 〈◊〉 or Sturgeon the Severign and 〈…〉 somewhat in 〈…〉 like to the 〈◊〉 but not so thick 〈◊〉 long These 4. kinds of fish breed in the Volgha and are caught in great plenty and served thence into the whole Realm for a great food Of the roes of these foure kinds they make very great store of Icary or Caveary as was said before They have besides these that breed in the Volgha a fish called the Riba bela or white Salmon which they account more delicate then they do the red Salmon whereof also they have exceeding great plentie in the rivers Northward as in Duyna the river of Cola c. In the Ozera or lake near a town called Perislave not farre from the Mosko they have a small fish which they call the freshherring of the fashion and somewhat of the taste of a sea-herring Their chief towns for fish are Yaruslave Bealezera Nâ—vâ—grod Astracan and Cazan which all yield a large custome to the Emperour every year for their trades of fishing which they practise in summer but send it froâ—en in the winter-time into all parts of the Realm CHAP. IIII. The chief cities of Russia THe chief cities of Russia are Mosko Novograd Rostove Volodomer Plesko Smolensko Yaruslave Perislave Nisnovograd Vologda Ustiuck Golmigroe Cazan Astracan Cargapolia Columna The citie of Mosko is supposed to be of great antiquitie though the first founder be unknown to the Russe It seemeth to have taken the name from the river that runneth on the one side of the town Berosus the Chaldean in his fifth book telleth that Nimrod whom other profane stories call Saturn sent Assyrius Medus Moscus and Magog into Asia to plant Colonies there and that Moscus planted both in Asia and Europe Which may make some probability that the citie or rather the river whereon it is built took the denomination from this Moscus the rather because of the climate or situation which is in the very furthest part and list of Europe bordering upon Asia The citie was much enlarged by one Evan or John sonne to Daniel that first changed his title of Duke into King though that honour continued not to his posteritie the rather because he was invested into it by the Popes Legate who at that time was Innocentius the fourth about the year 1246. which was very much misliked by the Russe people being then a part of the Eastern or Greek Church Since that time the name of this citie hath grown more famous and better known unto the world insomuch that not onely the province but the whole countrey of Russia is termed by some by the name of Moscovia the metropolite citie The form of this citie is in a manner round with three strong walls circuling the one within the other and streets lying between whereof the inmost wall and the buildings closed within it lying safest as the heart within the bodie fenced and watered with the river Moskua that runneth close by it is all accounted the Emperours castle The number of houses as I have 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 waâ— 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 Southside of Moskua built not long before by Basibius the Emperour for his garison of souldiers to whom he gave priviledge to drink Mead and Beer at the drie or prohibited times when other Russes may drink nothing but water and for that cause called this new citie by the name of Nalâ—t that is skinck or poure in So that now the citie of Mosko is not much bigger then the citie of London The next in greatnesse and in a manner as large is the citie Novograde where was committed as the Russe saith the memorable warre so much spoke of in Stories of the Scythian servants that took arms against their masters which they report in this sort viz. That the Boiarens or Gentlemen of Novograde and the territorie about which onely are souldiers after the discipline of those countreus had warre with the Tartars Which being well performed and ended by them they returned homewards Where they understood by the way that their Cholâ—pey or bondslaves whom they left at home had in their absence possessed their towns lands houses wives and all At which news being somewhat amazed and yet disdaining the villanie of their servants they made the more speed home and so not farre from Novograde met them in warlike manner marching against them Whereupon advising what was best to be done they agreed all to set upon them with no other shew of weapon but with their horse-whips which as their manner is every man rideth withall to put them in remembrance of their servile condition thereby to terrifie them and abate their courage And so marching on and lashing altogether with their whips in their hands they gave the onset which seemed so terrible in the ears of their villains and stroke such a sense into them of the smart of the whip which they had felt before that they fled altogether like sheep before the drivers In memorie of this victorie the Novogradians ever since have stamped their coin which they call a dingee Novogrod kâ—y currant through all Russia with the figure of a horseman shaking a whip aloft in his hand These two cities exceed the rest in greatnesse For strength their chief towns are Vobsko Smolensko Cazan and Astracan as lying upon the borders But for situation Jaruslave farre exceedeth the rest For besides the commodities that the soil yieldeth of pasture and corn it lieth upon the famous river Volgha and looketh over it from a high bank very fair and stately to behold whereof the town takeâ—h the name For Jaruslave in that tongue signifieth as much as a fair or famous bank In this town as may be guessed by the name dwelt the Russe king Ulademir sirnamed Jaruslave that married the daughter of Harald king of England by mediation of Sueno the Dane as is noted in the Danish storie about the year 1067. The other towns have nothing that is greatly memorable save many ruines within their walls Which sheweth the decrease of the Russe people under this government The streets of their cities and towns in stead of paving are planked with firre-trees plained and laid even close the one to the other Their houses are of wood without any lime or stone built very close and warm with firre-trees plained and piled one upon another They are fastened together with
is ever noted in the practice of his warres and namely at the siege of Vobsko about eight years since where he repulsed the Polonian king Stepan Batore with his whole armie of 100000. men and forced him in the end to give over his siege with the losse of many of his best Captains and souldiers Put in a set field the Russe is noted to have ever the worse of the Polonian and Sweden If any behave himself more valianâ—ly then the rest or do any speciall piece of service the Emperour sendeth him a piece of gold stamped with the Image of Saint George on horseback Which they hang on their sleeves and set in their caps And this is accounted the greatest honour they can receive for any service they do CHAP. XVIII Of their Colonies and maintaining of their conquests or purchases by force THe Russe Emperours of late years have very much enlarged their dominions and territories Their first conquest after the Dukedome of Mosko for before that time they were but Dukes of Volodomer as before was said was the Citie and Dukedome of Novograd on the West and Northwest side which was no small enlargement of their dominion and strengthning to them for the winning of the rest This was done by Juan great grandfather to Theodore now Emperour about the year 1480. The same began likewise to encroch upon the countreys of Lituania and Livonia but the conquest onely intended and attempted by him upon some part of those countreys was pursued and performed by his sonne Basileus who first wonne the Citie and Dukedome of Plesko afterwards the Citie and Dukedome of Smolensko and many other fair towns with a large territorie belonging unto them about the year 1514. These victories against the Lettoes or Lituanians in the time of Alexander their Duke he atchieved rather by advantage of civil dissentions and treasons among themselves then by any great policie or force of his own But all this was lost again by his sonne Juan Vasilowich about eight or nine years past upon composition with the Polonian king Stepan Batore whereunto he was forced by the advantages which the Pole had then of him by reason of the foil he had given him before and the disquietnesse of his own state at home Onely the Russe Emperour at this time hath left him on that side his countrey the cities of Smolensko Vitobsko Cheringo and Beala gorod in Lituania In Livonia not a town nor one foot of ground When Basileus first conquered those countreys he suffered the natives to keep their possessions and to inhabite all their towns onely paying him a tribute under the government of his Russe Captains But by their conspiracies and attempts not long after he was taught to deal more surely with them And so coming upon them the second time he killed and carried away with him three parts of foure which he gave or sold to the Tartars that served him in those warres and in stead of them placed there his Russes so many as might overmatch the rest with certain garrisons of strength besides Wherein notwithstanding this oversight was committed for that taking away with him the upland or countrey people that should have tilled the ground and might easily have been kept in order without any danger by other good policies he was driven afterwards many years together to victuall the countrey specially the great towns out of his own countrey of Russia the soil lying there in the mean while waste and untilled The like fell out at the port of Narue in Liefland where his sonne Juan Vasilowich devised to build a town and a castle on the other side the river called Juan gorod to keep the town and countrey in subjection The Castle he caused to be so built and fortified that it was thought to be invincible And when it was finished for reward to the Architect that was a Polonian he put out both his eyes to make him unable to build the like again But having left the natives all within their own countrey without abating their number or strength the town and castle not long after was betrayed and surrendred again to the king of Sweden On the South-east-side they have got the kingdomes of Cazan and Astracan These were wonne from the Tartar by the late Emperour Juan Vasilowich father to the Emperour that now is the one about 35. the other about 33. years ago Northward out of the countrey of Siberia he hath laid unto his realm a great breadth and length of ground from wichida to the river of Obba about a 1000. miles space so that he is bold to write himself now The great Commander of Siberia The countreys likewise of Permia and Pechora are a divers people and language from the Russe overcome not long since and that rather by threatning and shaking of the sword then by any actuall sorce as being a weak and naked people without means to resist That which the Russe hath in his present possession he keepeth on this sort In his foure cheif border towns of Vobsko Smolensko Astâ—acan and Cazan he hath certain of his Counsell not of the greatest Nobilitie but of greatest trust which have more authoritie within their precincts for the countenancing and strengthning of their government there then the other Dukes that are set to govern in other places as was noted before in the manner of ordering their Provinces These he changeth sometime every year sometime every second or third year but exceedeth not that time except upon very speciall trust and good liking of the partie and his service lest by enlarging of their time they might grow into some familiaritie with the enemie as some have done being so farre out of sight The towns besides are very strongly fenced with trenches castles and store of munition and have garrisons within them to the number of two or three thousand apiece They are stored with victuall if any siege should come upon them for the space of two or three years beforehand The foure castles of Smolensko Vobsko Cazan and Astracan he hath made very strong to bear out any siege so that it is thought that those towns are impregnable As for the countreys of Pechora and Permia and that part of Siberia which he hath now under him they are kept by as easie means as they were first got viz. rather by shewing then by using of arms First he hath stored the Countrey with as many Russes as there are natives and hath there some few souldiers in garrison enough to â—eep them under Secondly his Officers and Magistrates there are of his own Russe people and he changeth them very often viz. every year twise or thrise notwithstanding there be no great fear of any innovation Thirdly he divideth them into many small governments like a staff broke in many small pieces so that they have no strength being severed which was but little neither when they were all in one Fourthly he provideth that the people of the Countrey have neither armour
much after the Russe manner spoken of before save that they are all horsemen and carrie nothing else but a bow a sheaf of arrows and a falcon sword after the Turkish fashion They are very expert horsemen and use to shoot as readily backward as forward Some will have a horsemans staff like to a bore spear besides their other weapons The common souldier hath no other armour then his ordinary apparel viz. a black sheeps skin with the wool side outward in the day-time and inward in the night-time with a cap of the same But their Marseys or Noblemen imitate the Turk both in apparel and armour When they are to passe over a river with their armie they tie three or foure horses together and taking long poles or pieces of wood bind them fast to the tails of their horse so sitting on the poles they drive their horse over At handie strokes when they come to joyn battel they are accounted farre better men then the Russe people fierce by nature but more hardie and bloudie by continuall practice of warre as men knowing no arts of peace nor any civil practice Yet their subtiltie is more then may seem to agree with their barbarous condition By reason they are practised to invade continually and to robbe their neighbours that border about them they are very pregnant and ready-witted to devise stratagems upon the sudden for their better advantage As in their warre against Beala the fourth king of Hungarie whom they invaded with 500000. men and obtained against him a great victorie Where among other having slain his Chancellour called Nicholas Schinick they found about him the Kings privie seal Whereupon they devised presenâ—ly to counterfeit letters in the Kings name to the cities and towns next about the place where the field was fought with charge that in no case they should convey themselves and their goods out of their dwellings where they might abide safely without all fear of danger and not leave the countrey desolate to the possession of so vile and barbarous an enemie as was the Tartar nation terming themselves in all reprochfull manner For notwithstanding he had lost his carriages with some few straglers that had marched disorderly yet he doubted not but to recover that lossé with the accesse of a notable victorie if the savage Tartar durst abide him in the field To this purpose having written their letters in the Polish character by certain young men whom they took in the field and signed them with the Kings seal they dispatched them forth to all the quarters of Hungarie that lay near about the place Whereupon the Ungarians that were now flying away with their goods wives and children upon the rumour of the Kings overthrow taking comfort of these counter feit letters stayed at home And so were made a prey being surprised on the sudden by this huge number of these Tartars that had compassed them about before they were aware When they besiege a town or fort they offer much parley and send many flattering messages to perswade a surrendrie promising all things that the inhabitants will require but being once possessed of the place they use all manner of hostilitie and crueltie This they do upon a rule they have viz. that Justice is to be practised but towards their own They encounter not lightly but they have some ambush whereunto having once shewed themselves and made some short conflict they retire as repulsed for fear and so draw the enemie into it if they can But the Russe being well acquainted with their practice is more warie of them When they come a roving with some small number they set on horseback counterfeit shapes of men that their number may seem greater When they make any onset their manner is to make a great-shout crying all out together Olla Billa Olla Billa God help us God help us They contemne death so much as that they choose rather to die then to yield to their enemie and are seen when they are slain to bite the very weapon when they are past striking or helping of themselves Wherein appeareth how different the Tartar is in his desperate courage from the Russe and Turk For the Russe Souldier if he begin once to retire putteth all his safetie in his speedie flight and if once he be taken by his enemie he neither defendeth himself nor intreateth for his life as reckoning straight to die The Turk commonly when he is past hope of escaping falleth to intreatie and casteth away his weapon offereth both his hands and holdeth them up as it were to be tied hoping to save his life by offering himself bondslave The chief bootie the Tartars seek for in all their warres is to get store of captives specially young boyes and girls whom they sell to the Turks or other their neighbours To this purpose they take with them great baskets made like bakers panniers to carrie them tenderly and if any of them happen to tire or to be sick on the way they dash him against the ground or some tree and so leave him dead The souldiers are not troubled with keeping the captives and the other bootie for hindering the execution of their warres but they have certain bands that intend nothing else appointed of purpose to receive and keep the captives and the other prey The Russe borders being used to their invasions lightly every year in the summer keep few other cattel on the border parts save swine onely which the Tartar will not touch nor drive away with him for that he is of the Turkish religion and will eat no swines flesh Of Christ our Saviour they confesse as much as doth the Turk in his Alcoran viz. that he came of the Angel Gabriel and the Virgin Marie that he was a great Prophet and shall be the Judge of the world at the last day In other matters likewise they are much ordered after the manner and direction of the Turk having felt the Turkish forces when he wonne from them Azou and Caffa with some other towns about the Euxine or Black sea that were before tributaries to the Chrim Tartar So that now the Emperour of the Chrims for the most part is chosen some one of the Nobilitie whom the Turk doth commend whereby it is brought now to that passe that the Chrim Tartar giveth to the Turk the tenth part of the spoil which he getteth in his warres against the Christians Herein they differ from the Turkish religion for that they have certain idole puppets made of silk or like stuff of the fashion of a man which they fasten to the doore of their walking houses to be as Janusses or keepers of the house And these idoles are made not by all but by certain religious women which they have among them for that and like uses They have besides the image of their King or great Cham of an huge bignesse which they erect at every stage when the armie marcheth and this every one must bend and bow unto
of his territorie that lieth farthest Westward on the Narve side to the parts of Siberia eastward where the Emperour hath his garrisons is 4400. verst or thereabouts A verst by their reckoning is a 1000 paces yet lesse by one quarter then an English mile If the whole dominion of the Russe Emperour were all habitable and peopled in all places as it is in some he would either hardly hold it all within one regiment or be overmightie for all his neighbour Princes CHAP. II. of the Soil and Climate THe soil of the countrey for the most part is of a slight sandie mould yet very much different one place from another for the yield of such things as grow out of the earth The countrey Northwards towards the parts of S. Nicholas and Cola and Northeast towards Siberia is all very barren and full of desert woods by reason of the climate and extremitie of the cold in winter-time So likewise along the river Volgha betwixt the countreys of Cazan and Astracan where notwithstanding the soil is very fruitfull it is all unhabited saving that upon the river Volgha on the westside the Emperour hath some few castles with garisons in them This happeneth by means of the Chrim Tartar that will neither himself plant towns to dwell there living a wild and vagrant life nor suffer the Russe that is farre off with the strength of his countrey to people those parts From Vologda which lieth almost 1700. verst from the port of S. Nicholas down towards Mosko and so towards the south part that bordereth upon the Chrim which containeth the like space of 1700. verst or thereabouts is a very fruitfull and pleasant countrey yielding pasture and corn with woods and waters in very great plentie The like is betwixt Rezan that lieth Southeast from Mosko to Novograd and Vobsko that reacheth furthest towards the Northwest So betwixt Mosko and Smolensko that lieth Southwest towards Lituania is a very fruitfull and pleasant soil The whole countrey differeth ver◠〈…〉 from it self by reason of thâ— yeare so that a man would-marvel to see the great alteration and difference betwixt the winter and the summer Rusâ—…a The whole countrey in the winter lieth under snow which falleth continually and is sometime of a yard or two thick but greater towards the North. The rivers and other waters are frozen up a yard or more thick how swift or broad soever they be And this continueth commonly five moneths viz. from the beginning of November till towards the end of March what time the snow beginneth to melt So that it would breed a frost in a man to look abroad at that time and see the winter face of that countrey The sharpnesse of the aire you may judge of by this for that water dropped down or cast up into the aire congealeth into ice before it come to the ground In the extremitie of winter if you hold a pewter dish or pot in your hand or any other metall except in some chamber where their warm stoves be your fingers will frieze fast unto it and draw off the skinne at he parting When you passe out of a â—arm room into a cold you shall senâ—ibly feel your breath to wax stark and even stifling with the coldâ— as you draw it in and out Divers not onely that travel abroad but in the very markets and streets of their towns are mortally pinched and killed withall so that you shall see many drop down in the streets many travellers brought into the towns sitting dead and stiff in their fleds Divers lose their noses the tips of their ears and the balls of their cheeks their toes feet c. Many times when the Winter is very hard and extreme the bears and wolves issue by troups out of the woods driven by hunger and enter the villages tearing and ravening all they can find so that the inhabitants are fain to flee for safeguard of their lives And yet in the Summer-time you shall see such a new hue and face of a countrey the woods for the most part which are all of firre and birch so fresh and so sweet the pastures and medows so green and well grown and that upon the sudden such varietie of flowers such noise of birds specially of Nightingales that seem to be more loud and of a more variable note then in other countries that a man shall not lightly travell in a more pleasant countrie And this fresh and speedy growth of the spring there seemeth to proceed from the benefit of the snow which all the winter-time being spread over the whole countrey as a white robe and keeping it warm from the rigour of the frost in the spring time when the sunne waxeth warm and dissolveth it into water doth so throughly drench and soke the ground that is somewhat of a slight and sandie mould and then shineth so hotly upon it again that it draweth the herbs and plants forth in great plenty and varietie in a very short time As the winter exceedeth in cold so the summer inclineth to overmuch heat specially in the moneths of June July and August being much warmer then the summer-aire in England The countrie throughout is very well watered with springs rivers and ozeraes or lakes Wherein the providence of God is to be noted for that much of the countrey being so farre inland as that some part lieth a 1000. miles and more every way from any sea yet it is served with fair rivers and that in very great number that emptying themselves one into another run all into the sea Their lakes are many and large some of 60. 80. 100. and 200. miles long with breadth proportionate The cheif rivers are these 1. Volgha that hath his head or spring at the root of an Aldertree about 200. verst above Yaruslave and groweth so big by the encrease of other rivers by that time it cometh 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 divideth the countrey from Lituania and falleth into the Euxin sea The third Tanais or Don the ancient bounder betwixt Europe and Asia that taketh his head out of Rezan Ozera and so running through the countrey of the Chrim Tartar falleth into the great sea lake or mear called Maeotis by the Citie of Azou By this river as the Russe reporteth you may passe from their citie Mosko to Constantinople and so into all those parts of the world by water drawing your boat as their manner is over a little Isthmus or narrow slip of land a few versts overthwart Which was proved not long since by an Ambassadour sent to Constantinople who passed the river of Moskua and so into another called Ocka whence he drew his boat over into Tanais and thence passed the whole way by water The fourth is called Duyna many hundred miles long that falleth Northward into the Bay of Saint Nicholas and hath great
himself and are changed ordinarily at every years end except upon some speciall liking or suit the â—ime be prorogued for a year or two 〈◊〉 They are men of themselves of 〈◊〉 erodit nor favour with the people where they govern being neither 〈◊〉 nor brought up among them 〈◊〉 yet having inheritance of their own there or else where Onely oâ— the Emperour they have for that service an 100. marks a year he that hath most some fiftie some but thirtie Which maketh them more suspected and odious to the people because being so bare and coming fresh and hungrie upon them lightly every year they rack and spoil them with out all regard of justice or conscience Which is easily tolerated by the chief officers of the Chetfirds to the end they may rob them again and have a better bootie when they call them to account which commonly they do at the end of their service making an advantage of their injustice and oppression over the poore people There are few of them but they come to the Pudkey or whâ—… when their time is ended which themselves for the most part do makâ—… account of And therefore they furnish themselves with all the spâ—… they can for the time of their government that they may have for both turns aswell for the Emperour aâ—… Lord of the Chetfird as to resâ—… some good part for themselves They that are appointed to govern abroad are men of this qualitie save that in the foure border towns that are of greatest importance are set men of more speciall valour and trust two in every town Whereof one is ever of the Emperours privie Counsell These foure border towns are Smolensko Vobsko Novogrod and Cazan whereof three lie towards the Polonian and Sweden one bordereth farre off upon the Chrim Tartar These have larger commission then the other Dukes of the Provinces that I spake of before and may do execution in criminall matters Which is thought behoovefull for the Commonwealth for incident occasions that may happen upon the borders that are farre off and may not stay for direction about every occurrent and particular matter from the Emperour and his Counsell They are changed every year except as before and have for their stipend 700. rubbels a year he that hath most some have but 400. Many of these places that are of greatest importance and almost the whole countrey is managed at this time by the Godonoes and their clients The citie of Mosko that is the Emperours seat is governed altogether by the Emperours Counsell All matters there both civill criminall are heard determined in the several courts held by some of the said Counsell that reside there all the year long Onely for their ordinary matters as buildings reparations keeping of their streets decent and clean collections levying of taxes impositions and such like are appointed two Gentlemen and two Dyacks or Secretaries who hold a court together for the ordering of such matters This is called the Zempskey house If any townsman suspect his servant of these or like matter hither he may bring him to have him examined upon the Pudkey or other torture Besides these two Gentlemen and Secretaries that order the whole Citie there are Starusts or Aldâ—rmen for every severall companie The Alderman hath his Sotskey or Constable and the Constable hath certain Deoetskeis or Decurions under him which have the oversight of ten housholds apeice whereby every disorder is sooner spied and the common service hath the quicker dispatch The whole number of Citizens poore and rich are reduced into companies The cheif officers as the Dyacks and Gentlemen are appointed by the Emperour himself the Starust by the Gentlemen and Dyacks the Sotskey by the Starust or Alderman and the Dâ—…skois by the Constables This manner of government of their Provinces and towns if it were as well set for the giving of justice indifferently to all sorts as it is to prevent innovations by keeping of the Nobilitie within order and the Commons in subjection it might seem in that kind to be no bad nor unpolitick way for the containing of so large a Commonwealth of that breadth and length as is the kingdome of Russia But the oppression and flaverie is so open and so great that a man would marvell how the Nobilitie and people should suffer themselves to be brought under in while they had any means to avoid and repuÌ„lse it or being so strengthned as it is at this present how the Emperours themselves can be content to practise the same with so open injustice and oppressión of their Subjects being themselves of a Christian profession By this it appeareth how hard a matter it were to alter the state of the Russe government as now it standeth First because they have 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 advanced by the Emperour depending on his favour and attending onely about his own person And for the Dukes that are appointed to govern under them they are but men of a titular dignitie as was said before of no power authoritie nor credit save that which they have out of the office for the time they injoy it Which doth purchase them no favour but rather hatred of the people for as much as they see that they are set over them not so much for any care to do them right and justice as to keep them under in a miserable subjection and to take the fliece from them not once in the year as the owner from his shâ—ep but to poll and clip them all the year long Besides the authority and rule which they bear is rent and divided into many small pieces being divers of them in every great Shire limited besides with a very short time which giveth them no scope to make any strength nor to contrive such an enterprise if happely they intended any matter of innovation As for the common people as may better appear in the description of their state and qualitie afterwards set down besides their want of armour and practise of warre which they are kept from of purpose they are robbed continually both of their hearts and money besides other means sometime by pretence of some service to be done for the common defence sometimes without any shew at all of any necessitie of Common-wealth or Prince So that there is no means either for Nobilitie or people to attempt any innovation so long as the militarie forces of the Emperour which are the number of 8000. ac the least in continuall pay hold themselves fast and sure unto him and to the present state Which needs they must do being of the qualitie of Souldiers and enjoying withall that free libertie of wronging and spoiling of the commons at their preasure which is permitted them of purpose to make them have a liking of the present state As for the agreement of the souldiers and commons it is a thing not
three bushels English or little lesse The Podat is an ordinary rent of money imposed upon every Soak or Hundred within the whole Realm This Tagla and Podat bring in yearly to the Offices of the Chetfirds a great summe of money as may appear by the particulars here set down The town and Province of Vobsko pay yearly for Tagla and Pâ—dat about 18000 rubbels Novogrâ—d 35000. rubbels Torshock and Oâ—sâ— 8000. rubbels Razan 30000. rubbels Morum 12000. rubbels ColmigroÌ„e and Duyna 8000. rubbels Vologda 12000. rubbels Cazan 18000. rubbels Vsting 30000. rubbels Rostove 50000. The citie of Mosko 40000. rubbels Sibierskoy 20000. rubbels Castrome 12000. rubbels The totall amounteth to 400000. rubbels or marks a year which is brought in yearly the first day of September that is reckoned by them the first day of the year The third that is called the Bulsha Prechod or great Income receiveth all the customes that are gathered out of all the principall towns and cities within the whole Realm besides the fees and other duties which rise out of divers smaller Offices which are all brought into this office of Bulsha Prechod The towns of most trade that do yield greatest customes are these here set down Mosko Smolensko Vobsko Novogrod Velica Strararouse Torshock Otfer Yaruslave castrome Nesna Novogrod Cazan Vologda This custome out of the great towns is therefore most certain and easie to be reckoned because it iâ— set and rated precisely what they â—…ll pay for the custome of the year Which needs must be paid into the said office though they receive not so much If it fall out to be more it runneth all into the Emperours advantage The custome at Mosko for every year is 12000. rubbels The custome of Smolensko 8000. Vobsko 12000 rubbels Novogrod velica 6000. rubbels Strararouse by salt and other commodities 18000. rubbels Torshâ—ck 800. rubbels Otfer 700. rubbels Yaruslave 1200. rubbels Castrome 1800. rubbels Nesna Novogrod 7000. rubbels Cazan 11000. rubbels Vologda 2000. rubbels The custome of the rest that are towns of 〈◊〉 is sometimes more sometimes leâ—â—â— as their traffick and dealings with commodities to and fro falleth out for the year This may be said for certain that the three tables of receits belonging to this office of Bulsha Prechod when they receive least account for thus much viz. The first table 160000. rubbels The second table 90000. rubbels The third 70000. rubbels So that there cometh into the office of Bulsha Prechod at the least reckoning as appeareth by their books of customes out of these and other towns and maketh the summe of 340000. rubbels a year Besides this custome out of the towns of trade there is received by this office of Bulsha Prechod the yearly rent of the common Bathstoves and Cabacks or Drinkinghouses which pertain to the Emperour Which though it be uncertain for the just summe yet because it is certain and an ordinary matter that the Russe will bathe himself aswell within as without yieldeth a large rent to the Emperours treasurie There is besides a certain mulct or penaltie that groweth to the Emperour out of every judgement or sentence that passeth in any of his courts of Record in all civill matters This penaltie or mulct is 20. Dingoes or pence upon every rubble or mark and so ten in the hundred which is paid by the partie that is convict by law He hath besides for every name contained in the writs that passe out of these courts five Alteens An Alteen is five pence sterling or thereabouts This is made good out of the office whence the writ is taken forth Thence it goeth to the office that keepeth the lesser seal where it payeth as much more to the Emperours use This riseth commonly to 3000. rubbels a year or thereabouts Further also out of the office of Roisbonia where all fellonies are tried is received for the Emperour the half part of fellons goods the other half 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 overplus or remainder that is saved out of the land-rents allotted to divers other offices as namely to the office called Roserade which hath lands and rents assigned unto it to pay the yearly salaries of the souldiers or horsmen that are kept still in pay Which in time of peace when they rest at home not employed in any service is commonly cut off and paid them by halfs sometimes not the half so that the remainder out of the Roserade office that is laid into the Emperours treasurie cometh for the most part every year 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 paiment of the Strelsey men or gunners aswell those at Mosko that are of the Emperours guard 12000. in ordinary as on the borthers and other garison towns and castles Likewise out of the office of Prechase Shifivoy Nemshoy which hath set allowance of lands to maintain the forein mercenarie souldiers as Poles Swedens Dutches Scots c. So out of the office of Pusharskoy which hath lande and rents allowed for the provision of munition great Ordiâ—…ce Powder Sâ—â—t Sâ—ltpeâ—…r Brimstone 〈◊〉 and such like there is left somewhat at the years end that runneth into the treasurie All these bring into the office of Bulsha Prechod that which remaineth in their hand at the years end Whence 〈◊〉 is delivered into the Emperours treasurie So that the whole summe that groweth to this office of Bulsha Prechod or the great income as appeareth by the books of the said office amounteth to 800000. rubbels a year or thereabouts All these offices to wit the office of the Steward the foure Chetsirds and the Bulsha Prechod deliver in their receits to the head treasurie that lieth within the Emperours house or castle at the Mosko Where lie all his moneys jewels crowns sceptres plate and such like the chests hutches and bags being signed by the Emperours themselves with their own seal Though at this time the L. Borris Federowich Godonoe his seal and oversight supplieth for the Emperour as in all other things The under-officer at this time is one Stephen Vasilowich Godonoe Cousin germane to the said Borris who hath two Clerks allowed to serve under him in the office The summe that groweth to the Emperours treasurie in money onely for every year 1. Out of the Stewards office above the expense of his house 230000 rubbels 2. Out of the foure Chetfirds for soak and head-money 400000. rubbels 3. Out of the Bulsha Prechod Office or great income for custome and other rents 800000. rubbels Summe 1430000. rubbles clear besides all charges for his house and ordinary salaries of his souldiers otherwise discharged But besides this revenue that is paid all in money to the Emperours treasurie he receiveth yearly in furres and other duties to a great value out of Siberia Pechora Permia and
them at the Emperours price whether they will or no. This last year of 1589. was engrossed all the wax of the countrey so that none might deal with that commoditie but the Emperour onely 6. To take up and engrosse in like sort sometime forein commodities as silks cloth lead pearl c. brought into his realm by Turkish merchants Armenians Bougharians Potes English and other and then to force his merchants to buy them of his officers at his own price 7. To make a Monopolie for the time of such commodities as are paid him for rent or custome and to inhanse the price of them as furres corn wood c. what time none must sell of the same kind of commoditie till the Emperours be all sold. By this means he maketh of his rent-corn and other provision of victuall as before was said about 200000. rubbels or marks a year Of his rent-wood hay c. 30000. rubbels or thereabouts 8. In every great town of his Realm he hath a Caback or drinking-house where is sold aquavitae which they call Russe wine mead beer c. Out of these he receiveth rent that amounteth to a great summe of money Some yield 800. some 900. some a 1000. some 2000. or 3000. rubbels a year Wherein besides the base and dishonourable means to encrease his treasurie many foul faults are committed The poore labouring man and artificer many times spendeth all from his wife and children Some use to lay in twentie thirtie fourtie rubbels or more into the Caback and vow themselves to the pot till all that be spent And this as he will say for the honour of Hospodare or the Emperour You shall have many there that have drunk all away to the very skin and so walk naked whom they call Naga While they are in the Caback none may call them forth whatsoever cause there be because he hindereth the Emperours revenue 9. To cause some of his Boiarens or Nobles of his court whom he useth upon trust that have houses in the Mosko to fain themselves robbed then to send for the Zemskey men or Aldermen of the citie and to command them to find out the robberie In default of not finding it to prave or seize the citie for their misgovernment in 8000. 9000. or 10000 rubbels at a time This is many times practised 10. In these exactions to shew their sovereigntie sometime they use very plain and yet strange cavillations As was that of Juan Vasilowich father to this Emperour after this sort He sent into Permia for certain loads of Cedar wood whereof he knew that none grew in that Countrey The inhabitants returned answer they could find none there Whereupon he seassed their Countrey in 12000. rubbels as if they concealed the commoditie of purpose Again he sent to the citie of Mosko to provide for him a Colpack or measure full of live fleas for a medicine They returned answer that the thing was impossible and if they could get them yet they could not measure them for leaping out Whereupon he praved or beat out of their shins 7000. rubbels for a mulct By like cavillation he 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 been the cause of it Which the Nobilitie as the manner is praved presently again upon the Mousicks or common people of the Countrey This may seem a strange kind of extortion by such pleasant cavils to fliece his poore subjects in good sadnesse but that it agreeth with the qualitie of those Emperours and the miserable subjection of that poore Countrey These and such like means are practised by the Emperours of Russia to encrease their Treasurie CHAP. XIII Of the state of the Commonaltie or vulgar sort of people in the countrey of Russia THe condition of the Commons and vulgar sort of people may partly be understood by that which already hath been said concerning the manner of their government and the state of the Nobilitie with the ordering of their Provinces and chief towns of the land And first touching their libertie how it standeth with them it may appear by this that they are reckoned in no degree at all nor have any suffrage nor place in their Zabore or High court of Parliament where their laws and publick orders are concluded upon which commonly tend to the oppression of the commons For the other two degrees viz. of the Nobilitie and Clergie which have a vote in the Parliaments though farre from that libertie that ought to be in common consultations for the publick benefit according to the measure and proportion of their degrees are well contented that the whole burden shall light upon the Commons so they may ease their own shoulders by laying all upon them Again into what servile condition their libertie is brought not onely to the Prince but to the Nobles and Gentlemen of the Countrey who themselves also are but servile specially of late years it may further appear by their own acknowledgements in their supplications and other writings to any of the Nobles or chief officers of the Emperours wherein they name and subscribe themselves Kolophey that is their villains or bondslaves as they of the Nobilitie do unto the Emperour This may truly be said of them that there is no servant nor bondslave more awed by his Master nor kept down in a more servile subjection then the poore people are and that universally not onely by the Emperour but by his Nobilitie chief officers and souldiers So that when a poore Mousick meeteth with any of them upon the high way he must turn himself about as not daring to look him on the face and fall down with knocking of his head to the very ground as he doth unto his Idol Secondly concerning the lands goods and other possessions of the commons they answer the name and lie common indeed without any fense against the rapine and spoil not onely of the highest but of his Nobilitie officers and souldiers Besides the taxes customes seizures and other publick exactions done upon them by the Emperour they are so racked and pulled by the Nobles officers messengers sent abroad by the Emperour in his publick affairs specially in the Yammes as they call them and through fare towns that you shall have many villages and towns of half a mile and a mile long stand all unhabited the people being fled all into other places by reason of the extreme usage and exactions done upon them So that in the way towards Mosko betwixt Vologda and Yaruslaveley which is two nineties after their reckoning little more then an hundred miles English there are in sight fiftie Darieunes or villages at the least some half a miâ—e some a mile long that stand vacant and desolate without any inhabitant The like is in all other places of the realm as is said by those that have better travelled the countrey then my self had time or occasion
nor money being taxed and pilled so often as he thinketh good without any means to shake off that yoke or to relieve themselves In Siberia where he goeth on in pursuing his conquest he hath divers castles and garrisons to the number 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 certain of his Captâ—â—ns to leave his own countrey by offers of great entertainment and pleasanter life with the Russe Emperour then he had in Siberia He was brought in this last year and is now with the Emperour at Mosko well entertained This may be said of the Russe practise wheresoever he ruleth either by right of inheritance or by conquest First he bereaveth the countrey of armour and other means of defence which he permitteth to none but to his Boiarskeis onely Secondly he robbeth them continually of their money and dommodities and leaveth them hare with nothing but their bodies and lives within certain years compasse Thirdly he renteth and divideth his territories into many small pieces by severall governments so that none hath much under him to make any strength though he had other oportunities Fourthly he governeth his countreys by men of small reputation and no power of themselves and strangers in those places where their government lieth Fiftly he changeth his governours once a year ordinarily that there grow no great liking nor intirenesse betwixt the people and them nor acquaintance with the enemy if they lie towards the borders Sixthly he appointeth in one and the same place adversary governours the one to be as controller of the other as the Dukes and Diacks where by means of their envies and emulations there is lesse hurt to be feared by their agreement and himself is better informed what is done amisse Seventhly he sendeth many times into every Province secret messengers of speciall trust about him as intelligencers to pâ—iâ— and hearken out what is doing and what is amisse there And this is ordinary though it be sudden and unknown what time they will come CHAP. XIX Of the Tartars and other borderers to the Countrey of Russia with whom they have most to do in warre and peace THeir neighbours with whom they have greatest dealings and intercourse both in peace and warre are first the Tartar Secondly the Polonian whom the Russe calleth Laches noting the first authour or founder of the Nation who was called Laches or Leches where unto is added Po which signifieth People and 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 herter known to these parts of Europe then are the Tartars that are further off from us as being of Asia and divided into many tribes different both in name and government 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 Countrey by often invasions commonly once every year sometimes entring very farre within the inland parts In the year 1571. he came as farre as the citie of Mosko with an armie of 200000. men without any battel or resistance at all for that the Russe Emperour then Juan Vasilowich leading forth his armie to encounter with him marched a wrong way but as it was thought of very purpose as not daring to adventure the field by reason that he doubted his Nobilitie and chief Captains of a meaning to betray him to the Tartar The citie he took not but fired the Suburbs which by reason of the buildings which is all of wood without any stone brick or lime save certain outrooms kindled so quickly and went on with such rage as that it consumed the greatest part of the citie almost within the space of foure houres being of 30. miles or more of compasse Then might you have seen a lamentable spectacle besides the huge and mighty flame of the citie all on light fire the people burning in their houses and streets but most of all of such as laboured to passe out of the gates furthest from the enemie where meeting together in a mighty throng and so pressing every man to prevent another wedged themselves so fast within the gate and streets near unto it as that three ranks walked one upon the others head the uppermost treading down those that were lower so that there perished at that time as was said by the fire and the presse the number of 800000. people or more The Chrim thus having fired the Citie and fed 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 said to stick himself withall upbraiding thiâ— lesse and his desperate case as not daring either to meet his enemie in the field nor to trust his friends or subjects at home The prnicipall cause of this continuall quarrel betwixt the Russe and the Chrim is for the right of certain border parts claimed by the Tartar but possessed by the Russe The Tartar alledgeth that besides Astracan Cazan that are the ancient possession of the East Tartar the whole countrey from his bounds North and Westward so farre as the citie of Mosko and Mosko it self pertaineth to his right Which seemeth to have been true by the report of the Russes themselves that tell of a certain homage that was done by the Russe Emperour every year to the Great Chrim or Cham the Russe Emperour standing on foot and feeding the Chrims horse himself sitting on his back with oats out of his own cap in stead of a bowl or manger and that within the castle of Mosko And this homage they say was done till the time of Basileus grandfather to this man Who surprising the Chrim Emperour by a stratagem done by one of his Nobilitie called Juan Demetrowich Belschey was content with this ransome viz. with the changing of this homage into a tribute of furres which afterwards also was denied to be paied by this Emperours father Hereupon they continue the quarrel the Russe defending his countrey and that which he hath wonne the Chrim Tartar invading him once or twice every year sometime about Whitsuntide but oftner in Harvest What time if the great Cham or Chrim come in his own person he bringeth with him a great armie of 100000. or 200000. men Otherwise they make short and sudden roads into the countrey with lesser numbers funning about the list of the border as wild geese flie invading and retiring where they see advantage Their common practice being very populous is to make divers armies and so drawing the Russe to one or two places of the frontiers to invade at some other place that is left without defence Their manner of fight or ordering of their forces is
of their administring the Sacraments Fourthly what other strange ceremonies and superstitious devotions are used among them Their offices or degrees of Church-men are as many in number and the same in a manner both in name and degree that were in the Western churches First they have their Patriarch then their Metropolites their Archbishops their Uladikey or Bishops their Protopapes or Archpriests their Papes or Priests their Deacons Friers Monks Nunnes and Eremites Their Patriarch or chief directour in matter of religion untill this last year was of the citie of Constantinople whom they called the Patriarch of Sio because being driven by the Turk out of Canstantinople the sâ—at of his Empire he removed to the Isle Sio sometimes called Chio and there placed his Patriarchicall sea So that the Emperours and clergie of Russia were wont yearly to send gifts thither and to acknowledge a spirituall kind of homage and subjection due to him and to that Church Which custome they have held as it seemeth ever since they professed the Christian religion Which how long it hath been I could not well learn for that they have no story or monument of antiquitie that I could hear of to shew what hath been done in times past within their countrey concerning either Church or Common wealth matters Onely I heare a report among them that about three hundred years since there was a marriage betwixt the Emperour of Constantinople and the kings daughter of that countrey who at the first denied to joyn his daughter in marriage with the Greek Emperour because he was of the Christian religion Which agreeth well with that I find in the storie of Laonicus Chalcacondylas concerning Turkish affairs in his fourth book where he speaketh of such a marriage betwixt John the Greek Emperour and the Kings daughter of Sarmatia And this argueth out of their own report that at that time they had not received the Christian religion as also that they were converted to the faith and withall perverted at the very same time receiving the doctrine of the Gospel corrupted with superstitions even at the first when they took it from the Greek Church which it self then was degenerate and corrupted with many superstitions and foul errours both in doctrine and discipline as may appear by the story of Nicephorus Gregoras in his 8. and 9. books But as touching the time of their conversion to the Christian faith I suppose rather that it is mistaken by the Russe for that which I find in the Polonian Storie the second book the third chapter where it is said that about the year 990. â—lodomirus Duke of Russia married one Anne sister to Basilius and Constantiâ—us brothers and Emperours of Constantinople Whereupon the Russe received the faith and profession of Christ. Which though it be somewhat more ancient then the time noted before out of the Russe report yet it falleth out all to one reckoning touching this point viz. in what truth and sinceritie of doctrine the Russe received the first stamp of religion forasmuch as the Greek church at that time also was many wayes infected with errour and superstition At my being there the year 1588. came unto the Mosko the Patriarch of Constantinople or Sio called Hieronymo being banished as some said by the Turk as some other reported by the Greek clergie deprived The Emperour being given altogether to superstitious devotions gave him great entertainment Before his coming to Mosko he had been in Italy with the Pope as was reported then by some of his companie His errand was to consult with the Emperour concerning these points First about a league to passe betwixt him and the king of Spain as the meetest Prince to joyn with him in opposition against the Turk To which purpose also Embassages had passed betwixt the Russe and the Persian Likewise from the Georgians to the Emperour of Russia to joyn league â—ogether for the invading of the Turk â—n all sides of his dominion taking â—…e advantage of the simple qualitie â—f the Turk that now is This treaâ—…e was helped forward by the Emperours Embassadour of Almain â—…nt at the same time to solicite an â—…vasion upon the parts of Polonia â—hat lie towards Rusland and to borâ—…ow money of the Russe Emperour â—…o pursue the warre for his brother â—…aximilian against the Swedens â—onne now king of Poland But this â—onsultation concerning a league beâ—…wixt the Russe and the Spaniard which was in some forwardnesse at â—y coming to Mosko and already â—nâ— appointed for Embassage into â—pain was marred by means of the overthrow given to the Spanish king by her Majestie the Queen of England this last year Which made â—he Russe Emperour and his Counsell â—o give a sadder countenance to the English Embassadour at that time for that they were disappointed of so good a policie as was this conjunction supposed to be betwixt them and â—he Spanish His second purpose whereto the first served as an introduction was in revenge of the Turk and the Greek clergie that had thrust him from his seat to treat with them about the reducing of the Russe Church under the Pope of Rome Wherein it may seem that coming lately from Rome he was set on by the Pope who hath attempted the same many times before though all in vain and namely in the time of the late Emperour Juan Vasilowich by one Anthony his Legate But thought this belike a farre better mean to obtain his purpose by treatie and mediation of their own Patriarch But this not succeeding the Patriarch fell to a third point of treatie concerning the resignation of his Patriarchship and translation of the Sea from Constantinople or Sio to the citie of Mosko Which was so well liked and intertained by the Emperour as a matter of high religion and policie that no other treatie specially of forein Embassages could be heard or regarded till that matter was concluded The reasons wherewith the Patriarch perswaded the translating of his Sea to the citie of Mosko were these in effect First for that the Sea of the Patriarch was under the Turk that is enemie to the faith and therefore to be removed into some other countrey of Christian profession Secondly because the Russe Church was the onely naturall daughter of the Greek at this time and holdeth the same doctrine and ceremonies with it the rest being all subject to the Turk and fallen away from the right profession Wherein the subtill Greek to make the better market of his broken ware advanced the honour that would grow to the Emperour and his countrey to have the Patriarchs seat translated into the â—hief citie and seat of his Empire As for the right of translating the Sea and appointing his successour he made no doubt of it but that it pertained wholly to himself So the Emperour and his Counsell with the principall of his clergie being assembled at the Moâ—ko it was determined that the Metropolite of Mosko should become Patriarch of the whole Greek Church and
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
some a 1000. some 800. some 500 c. They have had some of them as I have heard say ten or twelve thousand rubbels a year as had the Metropolite of Novograde Their habit or apparel when they shew themselves in their Pontificalibus after their solemnest manner is a mitre on their heads after the Popish fashion set with pearl and precious stone a cope on their backs commonly of cloth of gold embroidered with pearl and a Crosiers staff in their hands layed over all with plate of silver double guilt with a crosse or shepherds crook at the upper end of it Their ordinary habit otherwise when they ride or go abroad is a hood on their heads of black colour that hangeth down their backs and standeth out like a bongrace before Their upper garment which they call Reis is a gown or mantle of black Damask with many lists or gards of white Satten laid upon it every gard about two fingers broad and their Crosiers staff carried before them Themselves follow after blessing the people with their two forefingers with a marvellous grace The election and appointing of the Bishops and the rest pertaineth wholly to the Emperour himself They are chosen ever out of the Monasteries so that there is no Bishop Archbishop nor Metropolite but hath been a Monk or Frier before And by that reason they are and must all be unmarried men for their vow of chastitie when they were first shorn When the Emperour hath appointed whom he thinketh good he is invested in the Cathedrall church of his Diocesse with many ceremonies much after the manner of the Popish inauguration They have also their Deans and their Archdeacons As for preaching the word of God or any teaching or exhorting such as are under them they neither use it nor have any skill of it the whole Clergie being utterly unlearned both for other knowledge and in the word of God Onely their manner is twice every year viz. the first of September which is the first day of their year and on S. John Baptists day to make an ordinarie speech to the people every Metropolite Archbishop and Bishop in his Cathedrall Church to this or like effect That if any be in malice towards his neighbour he shall leave off his malice if any have thought of treason or rebellion against his Prince he beware of such practise if he have not kept his fasts and vows nor done his other duties to the holy Church he shall amend that faule c. And this is a matter of form with them uttered in as many words and no more in a manner then I have here set down Yet the matter is done with that grace and solemnitie in a pulpit of purpose set up for this one Act as if he were to discourse at large of the whole substance of divinitie At the Mosko the Emperour himself is ever present at this solemn exhortation As themselves are void of all manner of learning so are they warie to keep out all means that might bring any in as fearing to have their ignorance and ungodlinesse discovered To that purpose they have perswaded the Emperours that it would breed innovation and so danger to their state to have any noveltie of learning come within the Realm Wherein they say but truth for that a man of spirit and understanding helped by learning and liberall education can hardly indure a tyrannicall government Some years past in the other Emperours time there came a Presse and Letters out of Polonia to the citie of Mosko where a printing-house was set up with great liking and allowance of the Emperour himself But not long after the house was set on fire in the night time and the presse and letters quite burnt up as was thought by the procurement of the Clergie men Their Priests whom they call Papaes are made by the Bishops without any great triall for worthinesse of gifts before they admit them or ceremonies in their admission save that their heads are shorn not shaven for that they like not about an hand-breadth or more in the crown and that place anointed with oyl by the Bishop who in his admission putteth upon the priest first his surplesse and then setteth a white crosse on his breast of silk or some other matter which he is to wear eight dayes and no more and so giveth him authoritie to say and sing in the Church and to administer the Sacraments They are men utterly unlearned which is no marvell forasmuch as their makers the Bishops themselves as before was said are clear of that qualitie and make no further use at all of any kind of learning no not of the Scriptures themselves save to reade and to sing them Their ordinary charge and function is to say the Liturgie to administer the Sacraments after their manner to keep and deck their idols and to do the other ceremonies usuall in their Churches Their number is great because their towns are parted into many small parishes without any discretion for dividing them into competent numbers of housholds and people for a just congregation as the manner in all places where the means is neglected for increasing of knowledge and instruction towards God Which cannot well be had where by means of an unequall partition of the people and parishes there followeth a want and unequalitie of stipend for a sufficient ministerie For their priests it is lawfull to marrie for the first time But if the first wife die a second he cannot take but he must lose his Priesthood and his living withall The reason they make out of that place of Saint Paul to Timothie 1. 3. 2. not well understood thinking that to be spoken of divers wives successively that the Apostle speaketh of at one and the same time If he will needs marrie again after his first wife is dead he is no longer called Papa but Rospapa or Priest quondam This maketh the Priests to make much of their wives who are accounted as the matrones and of best reputation among the women of the parish For the stipend of the Priest their manner is not to pay him any tem the of corn or ought else but he must stand at the devotion of the people of his parish and make up the incommes towards his maintenance so well as he can by offerings shrifts marriages burials dirges and prayers for the dead and the living which they call Molitua For besides their publick service within their Churches their manner is for every private man to have a prayer said for him by the Priest upon any occasion of businesse whatsoever whether he ride go sail plough or whatsoever else he doth Which is not framed according to the occasion of his businesse but at randome being some of their ordinary and usuall Church-prayers And this is thought to be more holy and effectuall if it be repeated by the Priests mouth rather then by his own They have a custome besides to solemnize the Saints day that is patrone
to their Church once every year what time all their neighbours of their countrey and parishes about come in to have prayers said to that Saint for themselves and their friends and so make an offering to the Priest for his pains This offering may yield them some ten pounds a year more or lesse as the patrone or Saint of that Church is of credit and estimation among them The manner is on this day which they keep anniversarie for the priest to hire divers of his neighbour-priests to help him as having more dishes to dresse for the Saint then he can well turn his hand unto They use besides to visit their parishioners houses with holy water and perfume commonly once a quarter and so having sprinkled and becensed the good man and his wife with the rest of their houshold and houshold-stuff they receive some devotion more or lesse as the man is of abilitie This and the rest laid altogether may make up for the priest towards his maintenance about thirty or fourty rubbles a year whereof he payeth the tenth part to the Bishop of the Diocesse The Papa or Priest is known by his long tufts of hair hanging down by his ears his gown with a broad cape and a walking staff in his hand For the rest of his habit he is apparelled like the common sort When he saith the Liturgie or service within the Church he hath on him his surplesse and sometimes his cope if the day be more solemn They have besides their Papaes or Priests their Churnapapaes as they call them that is Black Priests that may keep their Beâ—â—fices though they be admitted Friers withall within some Monasterie They seem to be the very same that were called Regular Priests in the Popish Church Under the Priest is a Deacon in every Church that doth nothing but the office of a pa-rish-clerk As for their Protopapaes or Archpriests and their Archdeacons that are next in election to be their Protopapas they serve onely in the cathedrall Churches Of Friers they have an infinite rabble farre greater then in any other countrey where Popery is professed Every citie and good part of the countrey swarmeth full of them For they have wrought as the Popish Friers did by their superstition and hypocrisie that if any part of the Realm be better and sweeter then other there standeth a Friery or Monastery dedicated to some Saint The number of them is so much the greater not onely for that it 〈◊〉 augmented by the superstition of the countrey but because the Friers lifâ— is the safest from the oppressions and exactions that fall upon the Commons Which causeth many to put on the Friers weed as the best armour to bear off such blows Besides such as are voluntarie there are divers that are forced to shier themselves Friers upon some displeasure These are for the most part of the chief Nobilitie Divers take the Monasteriâ—s as a place of Sanctuary and there become Friers to avoid some punishment that they had deserved by the laws of the Realm For if he get a Monastery over his head and there put on a cowl before he be attached it is a protection to him for ever against any law for what crime soever except it be for treason But this Proviso goeth withall that no man cometh there except such as are commanded by the Emperour to be received but he giveth them lands or bringeth his stock with him and putteth it into the common Treasurie Some bring a 1000. rubbles and some more None is admitted under 3. or 4. hundred The manner of their admission is after this sort First the Abbot strippeth him of all his secular or ordinary apparel Then he puteth upon him next to his skinne a white flannell shirt with a long garment over it down to the ground girded unto him with a broad leather belt His uppermost garment is a weed of Garrus or Say for colour and fashion much like to the upper weed of a Chimney-sweeper Then is his crown shorn a hand-breadth or more close to the very skinne and these or like words pronounced by the Abbot whiles he clippeth his hair As these hairs are clipped off and taken from thy head so now we take thee and separate thee clean from the world and worldly things c. This done he anointeth his crown with oyl and putteth on his cowl and so taketh him in among the Fraternitie They vow perpetual chastity abstinence from flesh Besides their lands that are very great they are the greatest merchants in the whole countrey and deal for all manner of commodities Some of their Monasteries dispend in lands 1000. or 2000 rubbles a year There is one Abbey called Troils that hath in lands and fees the summe of 100000. rubbles or marks a year It is built in manner of a Castle walled round about with great ordinance planted on the wall and containeth within it a large breadth of ground great varietie of building There are of Friers within it besides their officers and other servants about 700. The Empresse that now is hath many vows to Saint Sergius that is patrone there to intreat him to make her fruitfull as having no children by the Emperour her husband Lightly every year she goeth on pilgrimage to him from the Mosko on foot about 80. English miles with 5. or 6000. women attending on her all in blue liveries 4000. souldiers for her guard But S. Sergius hath not yet heard her prayers though they say he hath a speciall gift and faculty that way What learning there is among their Friers may be known by their Bishops that are the choice men out of all their monasteries I talked with one of them at the Citie of Vologda where to trie his skill I offered him a Russe Testament and turned him to the first Chapter of S. Matthews Gospel where he began to reade in very good order I asked him first what part of Scripture it was that he had read he answered that he could not vvell tell How many Evangelists there were in the new Testament He said he knew not How many Apostles there were He thought there were twelve How he should be saved Whereunto he answered me with a piece of Russe doctrine that he knew not whether he should be saved or no but if God would Poshallovate him or gratifie him so much as to save him so it was he would be glad of it if not what remedie I asked him why he shore himself a Frier He answered because he would eat his bread with peace This is the learning of the Friers of Russia which though it be not to be measured by one yet partly it may be ghessed by the ignorance of this man what is in the â—est They have also many Nunneries whereof some may admit none but Noblemens widows and daughters when the Emperour meaneth to keep them unmarried from continuing the bloud or stock which he would have extinguished To speak of the life of their