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
Russes yet obey the Emperour of Russia and are ruled by the lawes of his countrie paying customes and taxes as his owne people doe Besides these hee hath vnder him the kingdomes of Cazan and Astracan gotten by conquest not long since As for all his possession in Lituania to the number of 30. great townes and more with Narue and Drop in Liuonia they are quite gone beyng surprised of late yeares by the kinges of Poland and Sweden These Shires and Prouinces are reduced all into foure Iurisdictions which they call Chetfyrds that is Tetrarchies or Fourthparts Wherof we are to speake in the title or chapter concerning the Prouinces and their manner of gouernment The whole countrie is of great length and breadth From the North to the South if you measure from Cola to Astracan which bendeth somewhat Eastwarde it reacheth in length about 4260. verst or miles Notwithstanding the Emperour of Russia hath more territorie Northward far beyond Cola vnto the riuer of Tromschua that runneth a 1000. verst welnie beyōd Pechinga neare to Wardbouse but not intire nor clearly limited by reason of the kings of Sweden and Denmark that haue diuers townes there aswell as the Russe plotted togither the one with the other euery one of them claiming the whole of those North parts as his owne right The breadth if you go from that part of his territorie that lieth farthest Westwarde on the Narue 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. pases 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 hee would either hardly hold it all within one regiment or be ouer mightie for all his neighbour Princes Of the Soyle and Climate The 2. Chapter THe soyle of the countrie for the most part is of a sleight sandie moulde yet very much different one place from another for the yeeld of such thinges as grow out of the earth The countrie Northwards towards the partes of S. Nicolas and Cola and Northeast towards Siberia is all very barren and full of desert woods by reason of the clymat and extremitie of the colde in winter time So likewise along the riuer Volgha betwixt the countries of Cazan and Astracan where notwithstanding the soyle is very fruitefull it is all vnhabited sauing that vpon the riuer Volgha on the west side the Emperour hath some fewe castels with garrisons in them This hapneth by means of the Chrim Tartar that will neyther himselfe plant townes to dwell there liuing a wilde and vagrant life nor suffer the Russe that is farre off with the strength of his countrie to people those partes From Vologda which lieth almost 1700. verst from the porte of S. Nicholas downe towardes Mosko and so towardes the south parte that bordereth vpon the Chrim which conteineth the like space of 1700. verst or there abouts is a very fruitfull and pleasant countrie yeelding pasture and corne with woods waters in very great plentie The like is betwixt Rezan that lieth southeast frō Mosko to Nouograd and Vobsko that reach farthest towards the northwest So betwixt Mosko and Smolensko that lieth southwest towards Lituania is a very fruitful and pleasant soile The whole countrie differeth very much from it selfe by reason of the yeare so that a man would meruaile to see the great alteration and difference betwixte the winter and the sommer Russia The whole countrie in the winter lyeth vnder snow which falleth continually and is sometime of a yarde or two thicke but greater towardes the north The riuers and other waters are all frosen vp a varde or more thicke how swifte or broade so euer they bee And this continueth commonly fiue moneths vz from the beginning of Nouember till towardes the ende of March what time the snow beginneth to melte So that it would breede a frost in a man to looke abroad at that time and see the winter face of that countrie The sharpenesse of the ayre you may iudge of by this for that water dropped downe or cast vp into the ayre congealeth into Ise before it come to the ground In the extremitie of winter if you holde a pewter dishe or pot in your hand or any other mettall except in some chamber where their warme stoaues bee your fingers will friese faste vnto it and drawe of the skinne at the parting When you passe out of a warme roome into a colde you shall sensibly feele your breath to waxe starke and euen stifeling with the colde as you draw it in and out Diuers not onely that trauell abroad but in the very markets and streats of their townes are mortally pinched and killed withall so that you shall see many drop downe in the streates many trauellers brought into the townes sitting dead and stiffe in their sleddes Diuers lose their noses the tippes of their eares and the bals of their cheekes their toes feete c. Many times when the winter is very harde and extreame the beares and woolfes issue by troupes out of the woodes driuen by hunger and enter the villages tearing and rauening all they can finde so that the inhabitants are faine to flie for safegard of their liues And yet in the Sommer time you shall see such a new hew and face of a countrie the woods for the most part which are all of fir and birch so fresh and so sweet the pastures and medowes so greene and well growen that vpō the sudden such varietie of flowers such noyse of birdes especially of Nightingales that seeme to be more lowde and of a more variable note then in other countries that a man shall not lightly trauell in a more pleasant countrie And this fresh and speedy grouth of the spring there seemeth to proceede from the benefite of the snow which all the winter time being spred ouer the whole countrie as a white robe keeping it warme from the rigour of the frost in the spring time when the sunne waxeth warme and dissolueth it into water doth so throughly drench and soake the ground that is somewhat of a sleight and sandy mould then shineth so hotely vpon it againe that it draweth the hearbes and plants forth in great plenty and varietie in a very short time As the winter exceedeth in colde so the sommer inclineth to ouer much heat specially in the moneths of Iune Iuly and August being much warmer then the sommer ayre in England The countrie throughout is very well watred with springs riuers ozeraes or lakes Wherein the prouidence of God is to bee noted for that much of the countrie beyng so farre inland as that some parte lieth a 1000. miles and more euery way from any sea yet it is serued with faire riuers and that in very great number that emptiyng themselues one into an other runne all into the sea Their
walking General whom I spake of before This walking or moouing Castle is so framed that it may bee set vp in length as occasion doeth require the space of one two three foure fiue sixe or seuen miles for so long it will reach It is nothing els but a double wall of wood to defende them on both sides behinde and before with a space of three yardes or thereabouts betwixt the two sides so that they may stande within it and haue roome ynough to charge and discharge their pieces and to vse their other weapons It is closed at both endes and made with loope holes on either side to lay out the nose of their piece or to push foorth any other weapon It is carried with the Armie wheresoeuer it goeth being taken into pieces and so layed on cartes sparred together and drawen by horse that are not seene by reason that they are couered with their carriage as with a shelfe or penthouse When it is brought to the place where it is to be vsed which is deuised chosen out before by the walking voiauod it is planted so much as the present vse requireth sometime a mile long sometimes two sometimes three or more Which is soone done without the helpe of any Carpenter or instrument because the timber is so framed to claspe together one piece within an other as is easily vnderstood by those that know the maner of the Russe building In this Castle standeth their shotte well fenced for aduantage specially against the Tartar that bringeth no ordinance nor other weapon into the field with him saue his swoord and bow and arrowes They haue also within it diuers field pieces which they vse as occasion doth require Of pieces for the field they carry no great store when they warre against the Tartar but when they deale with the Polonian of whose forces they make more account they goe better furnished with al kind of munition and other necessarie prouisions It is thought that no Prince of Christendome hath better stoare of munition then the Russe Emperour And it may partly appeare by the Artillerie house at Mosko where are of all sortes of great ordinance all brasse pieces very faire to an exceeding great number The Russe souldier is thought to be better at his defence within some castle or town then hee is abroad at a set pitched field Which is euer noted in the practise of his warres and namely at the siege of Vobsko about eight yeares since where hee repulsed the Polonian king Stepan Batore with his whole armie of 100000. men and forced him in the ende to giue ouer his siege with the losse of many of his best Captaines and souldiers But in a set field the Russe is noted to haue euer the worse of the Polonian 〈◊〉 Sweden If any behaue himselfe more valiantly then the rest or doo any speciall piece of seruice the Emperour sendeth him a piece of golde stamped with the Image of Saint George on horsebacke Which they hang on their sleeues and set in their caps And this is accounted the greatest honour they can receiue for any seruice they doo Of their Colonies and mainteyning of their conquests or purchases by force The 18. Chapter THE Russe Emperours of late yeres haue verie muche enlarged their dominions and territories Their first conquest after the Dukedom of Mosko for before that time they were but Dukes of Volodomer as before was sayd was the Citie and Dukedome of Nouograd on the West and Northwest side which was no small enlargement of their dominion strengthning to them for the winning of the rest This was done by Iuan great grandfather to Theodore now Emperour about the yeare 1480. The same began likewise to encroach vpon the countries of Lituania and Liuonia but the conquest onely intended attempted by him vpon some parte of those countries was pursued and performed by his sonne Basileus who first wan the citie and dukedome of Plesko afterwards the citie dukedome of Smolensko many other faire towns with a large territorie belonging vnto thē about the yeare 1514. These victories against the Lettoes or Lituanians in the time of Alexander their Duke he atchiued rather by aduantage of ciuill dissentions and treasons among themselues then by any great policie or force of his owne But all this was lost againe by his sonne Iuan Vasilowich about eight or nine yeares past vpon compositiō with the Polonian king Stepan Batore whereunto hee was forced by the aduantages which the Pole had then of him by reason of the foile he had giuen him before and the disquietnes of his owne state at home Onely the Russe Emperour at this time hath left him on that side his countrie the cities of Smolensko Vitobsko Cheringo and Beala gorod in Lituania In Liuonia not a towne nor one foote of ground When Basileus first conquered those countries he suffered the natiues to keepe their possessions and to inhabite all their townes onely paying him a tribute vnder the gouernment of his Russe Captaines But by their conspiracies and attempts not long after he was taught to deale more surely with them And so comming vpon them the second time hee killed and carried away with him three partes of foure which hee gaue or solde to the Tartars that serued him in those warres and in steede of them placed there his Russes so many as might ouermatch the rest with certaine garrisons of strength besides Wherein notwithstanding this ouersight was committed for that taking away with him the vpland or countrie people that should haue tilled the ground and might easily haue bene kept in order without any daunger by other good pollicies he was driuen afterwards many yeares together to vittaile the countrie specially the great townes out of his owne countrie of Russia the soile lying there in the meane while wast and vntilled The like fell out at the port of Narue in Liefland where his sonne Iuan Vasilowich deuised to build a towne and a castle on the other side the riuer called Iuangorod to keepe the towne and countrie in subiection The Castle he caused to be so built and fortified that it was thought to be inuincible And when it was finished for reward to the Architect that was a Polonian he put out both his eyes to make him vnable to build the like againe But hauing left the natiues all within their owne countrie without abating their number or strength the towne and castle not long after was betrayed and surrendred againe to the king of Sweden On the Southest side they haue got the kingdomes of Cazan and Astracan These were wonne from the Tartar by the late Emperour Iuan Vasilowich father to the Emperour that now is the one about 35 the other about 33. yeares agoe Northward out of the countrie of Siberia he hath layed vnto his realme a great breadth and length of ground from Wichida to the riuer of Obba about a 1000. miles space so that hee is bold to
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
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
The one part hee called the Oppressini or Select men These were such of the Nobilitie and Gentrie as he tooke to his owne part to protect and mainteyne them as his faithful subiects The other hee called Zemskey or the Commons The Zemskey conteyned the base and vulgar sort with such Noblemen and Gentlemen as he meant to cut off as suspected to mislike his gouernment and to haue a meaning to practise against him Wherein he prouided that the Oppressini for number and qualitie of valure money armour c farre exceeded the other of the Zempskey side whom he put as it were from vnder his protection so that if any of them were spoiled or killed by those of the Oppressini which hee accounted of his owne part there was no amendes to bee sought for by way of publike iustice or by complaint to the Emperour The whole number of both partes was orderly registred and kept in a booke so that euery man knewe who was a Zempskey man and who of the Oppressini And this libertie of the one part to spoyle and kill the other without anie helpe of Magistrate or lawe that continued seuen yeeres enriched that side and the Emperours treasurie and wrought that withall which hee intended by this practise viz. to take out of the way such of the Nobilitie as himself misliked whereof were slayne within one weeke to the number of three hundred within the citie of Mosko This tyrannicall practise of making a generall Schisme and publike diuision among the subiects of his whole Realme proceeded as should seeme from an extreame doubt and desperate feare which hee had conceiued of most of his Nobilitie and Gentlemen of his Realme in his warres with the Polonian and Chrim Tartar What time hee grewe into a vehement suspition conceiued of the ill successe of his affayres that they practised treason with the Polonian and Chrim Whereupon he executed some and deuised this way to be ridde of the rest And this wicked pollicy tyrannous practise though now it be ceassed hath so troubled that countrey and filled it so full of grudge mortall hatred euer since that it wil not be quenched as it seemeth now till it burne againe into a ciuill flame 3 Hauing thus pulled them and seased all their inheritaunce landes priuiledges c. saue some verie small part which he left to their name hee gaue them other landes of the tenour of Pomestnay as they call it that are helde at the Emperours pleasure lying farre of in an other countrey and so remoued them into other of his Prouinces where they might haue neyther fauour nor authoritie not being natiue nor well knowen there So that now these of the chiefe Nobilitie called Vdelney Knazey are equalled with the rest saue that in the opinion and fauour of the people they are of more account and keepe stil the prerogatiue of their place in al their publike meetings Their practise to keepe downe these houses from rising againe and recouering their dignities are these and such like First many of their heires are kept vnmaried perforce that the stocke may die with thē Some are sent into Siberia Cazan and Astracan vnder pretence of seruice and there either made away or else fast clapped vp Some are put into Abbeyes and shire themselues Friers by pretence of a vowe to be made voluntary and of their owne accord but indeede forced vnto it by feare vpon some pretensed crime obiected against them Where they are so garded by some of special trust and the Couent it selfe vpon whose head it standeth that they make no escape as that they haue no hope but to ende their liues there Of this kinde there are manie of verie great Nobilitie These and such like wayes begunne by the Emperour Iuan Vasilowich are still practised by the Godonoes who beyng aduaunced by the mariage of the Empresse their kinsewoman rule both the Emperour and his Realme specially Borris Federowich Godonoe brother to the Empresse and endeuour by all meanes to cut of or keepe downe all of the best and auncientest Nobilitie Whereof diuers alreadie they haue taken away whom they thought likeliest to make head against them and to hinder their purpose as Knez Andreas Guraken Bulgatkoue a man of great byrth and authoritie in the Countrey The like they haue done with Peeter Gollanni whom they put into a dungeon where he ended his life with Knez Vasilie Vrywich Golloohen with Andrieu luanowich Suskoy accounted among them for a man of a great wisedome So this last yeere was killed in a Monasterie whither they had thrust him on Knez Iuan Petrowich Suskoy a man of great valure and seruice in that Countrey who about fiue or sixe yeeres since bare out the siege of the Citie Vobsko made by Stepan Batore King of Polonia with a 100000. men and repulsed him verie valiantly with great honour to himselfe and his countrey and disgrace to the Polonian Also Mitheta Romanowich vnckle to the Emperour by the mothers side was supposed to haue dyed of poyson or some like practise The names of these families of greatest Nobility are these in their order The first is of Knez Volodemer 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 trūnery The 2. knez Metheloskey thrust into a Friery and his only sonne kept frō mariage to decay the house The 3. Glimskoy But one left of his house he without children saue one daughter The 4. Suskoy wherof there are 4. brethren yong men vnmaried al. The 5. Hubetskoy Of this house are 4. liuing The 6. Bulgaloy now called Guletchey house whereof are fiue liuing but youths al. The 7. Vorallinskoy Two left of that stock The 8. Odgoskey Two The 9. Telletskoy One The 10. Taytoue three These are the names of the chiefe families called Vdelney Knazey that in effect haue lost all now saue the very name it selfe and fauour of the people which is like one day to restore them againe if any be left The 2. degree of Nobility is of the Boiarens These are such as the Emperour honoureth besides their nobility with the title of counsellers The reuenue of these 2. sorts of their Nobles that riseth out of their lands assigned thē by the Emperour held at his pleasure for of their owne inheritaunce there is little left them as was said before is about a thousand marks a yeere besides pension which they receiue of the Emperour for their seruice in his warres to the summe of 700. rubbels a yeere and none aboue that summe But in this number the lorde Borris Federowich Godenoe is not to be reckoned that is like a Transendent and in no such predicament with the rest being the Emperors brother in law his protectour for direction for commaund and authority Emperour of Russia His yerely reuenue in land pension amounteth to the summe of 93700.
rubbels and more as appeareth by the particulars He hath of inheritance which himselfe hath augmentēted in Vasma Dorogobose sixe thousand rubbels a yeere For his office of Connick or Master of the Horse 12000. rubbels or markes raised out of the Conaslue Sloboday or the liberties pertayning to that Office which are certeyne Landes and Townes neere about the Mosko Besides all the meddowe and pasture grounde on both sides the banke of the riuer Mosko thirtie verst vp the streame aod fourtie verst downwards For his pension of the Emperour besides the other for his office 15000. rubbels Out of the Prouince or Shire of Vagha there is giuen him for a peculiar exempted out of the Chetfird of Posolskoy 32000. rubbels besides a tent of furres Out of Rezan and Seuer an other peculiar 30000. rubbels Out of Otfer and Turiock an other exempt place 8000. rubbels For rent of Bathstoaues and Bathing houses without the walles of Mosko 1500. rubbels Besides his pomest or lands which hee holdeth at the Emperours pleasure which farre exceedeth the proportion of land allotted to the rest of the Nobility One other there is of the house of Glinskoy that dispendeth in land and pension about 40000. rubbels yeerely Which hee is suffered to enioy because hee hath married Borris his wiues sister being himselfe verie simple and almost a naturall The ordering of him his landes are committed to Borris In the third rank are the Voyauodey or such Nobles as are or haue bin generals in the Emperours warres Which deliuer the honour of their title to their posterities also who take their place aboue the other Dukes and Nobles that are not of the two former sort vz. of the Vdelney knazey nor of the Boiarens These three degrees of their Nobilitie to wit the Vdelney knazey the Boiarens and the Voiaudey haue the addition of vich put vnto their sirname as Borris Federowich c which is a note of honour that the rest may not vsurpe And in case it be not added in the naming of them they may sue the Bestchest or penaltie of dishonour vpon them that otherwise shall terme them The fourth and lowest degree of Nobilitie with them is of such as beare the name of Knazey or Dukes but come of the yonger brothers of those chiefe houses through many discents and haue no inheritance of their owne saue the bare name or title of Duke onely For their order is to deliuer their names and titles of their dignities ouer to all their children alike what soeuer else they leaue them So that the sonnes of a Voiauodey or Generall in the field are called Voiauodey though they neuer saw the field and the sons of a Knez or Duke are called Knazey though they haue not one groat of inheritance or liuelyhood to mainteine themselues withall Of this sort there are so many that the plentie maketh them cheap so that you shall see Dukes glad to serue a meane man for fiue or six rubbels or marks a yeare yet they will stand highly vpon their Bestchest or reputation of their Honours And these are their seuerall degrees of Nobilitie The second degree of persons is of their Sina Boiarskey or the sonnes of Gentlemen which all are preferred hold that name by their seruice in the Emperours warres being souldiers by their very stocke and birth To which order are referred their Dyacks or Secretaries that serue the Emperour in euery head towne being ioyned in Commission with the Dukes of that place The last are their Commons whom they call Mousicks In which number they reckon their Marchants their common artificers The very lowest and basest sort of this kind which are held in no degree are their coūtrie people whom they call Christianeis Of the Sina boiarskey which are all souldiers we are to see in the description of their forces military prouisions Concerning their Mousicks what their condition behauiour is in the title or chapter Of the common people Of the gouernment of their Prouinces and Shires The 10. Chapter THe whole countrie of Russia as was said before is diuided into foure parts which they call Chetfirds or Tetrarchies Euery Chetfird cōteineth diuers shires is annexed to a seuerall office whereof it takes the name The first Chetfird or Tetrarchie beareth the name of Pososkoy Chetfird or the Iurisdiction of the office of Ambassages and at this time is vnder the chiefe Secretarie and officer of the Ambassages called Andreas Shalcaloue The stāding fee or stipend that he receiueth yearely of the Emperour for this seruice is 100. rubbels or markes The second is called the Roseradney Chetfird because it is proper to the Roserade or high Constable At this time it perteineth by vertue of office to Basilie Shalcaloue brother to the Chancellor but it is executed by one Zapon Abramoue His pension is an hundred rubbels yearely The third is the Chetfird of Pomestnoy as perteining to that office This keepeth a Register of all lands giuen by the Emperour for seruice to his Noblemē Gentlemē others giueth out taketh in all assurances for thē The officer at this time is called Eleazar wellusgine His stipend is 500. rubbels a yeare The fourth is called Cassanskoy dworets as being appropriat to the office that hath the iurisdiction of the kingdomes of Cazan and Astracan with the other townes lying vpon the Volgha now ordered by one Druzhine Penteleoue a man of very speciall account among them for his wisdome and promptnes in matters of pollicie His pension is 150. rubbels a yeare From these Chetfirds or Tetarchies is exempted the Emperors inheritance or Vochin as they cal it for that it perteined from auncient time to the house of Beala which is the sirname of the imperiall bloud This stādeth of 36. townes with their bounds or territories Besides diuers peculiar iurisdictions which at likewise deducted out of those Chetfirds as the Shire of Vagha belonging to the Lord Borrise Federowich Godonoe and such like These are the chiefe gouernours or officers of the Prouinces not resident at their charge abroad but attending the Emperour whether soeuer he goeth and carrying their offices about with them which for the most part they hold at Mosko as the Emperours chiefe seat The parts and practise of these foure offices is to receiue all complaints and actions what soeuer that are brought out of their seuerall Chetfirds and quarters to informe them to the Emperours counsell Likewise to send direction again to those that are vnder them in their said Prouinces for all matters giuen in charge by the Emperour and his Counsell to be done or put in execution within their precincts For the ordering of euery particular Prouince of these foure Chetfirds there is appointed one of these Dukes which were reckoned before in the lowest degree of their Nobilitie which are resident in the head townes of the said Prouinces Whereof euery one hath ioyned with him in Commission a Dyack or Secretarie to
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
tradeth are Derbent built by Alexander the great as the inhabitauntes saye and Zamachie where the staple is kept for rawe silkes Their manner is in the Spring time to reuiue the silke-wormes that lye dead all the Winter by laying them in the warme sunne and to hasten their quickening that they may sooner goe to worke to put them into bags and so to hang them vnder their childrens armes As for the worme called Chrinisin as we call it chrymson that maketh coloured silke it is bred not in Media but in Assyria This trade to Derbent and Samachie for rawe silkes and other commodities of that countrey as also into Persia and Bougharia downe the riuer Volgha and through the Caspian sea is permitted aswell to the English as to the Russe marchants by the Emperours last Graunt at my being there Which hee accounteth for a very speciall fauour and might prooue in deede very beneficiall to our English marchants if the trade were wel and orderly vsed The whole nation of the Tartars are vtterly voyde of all learning and without written Lawe Yet certeine rules they haue which they holde by tradition common to all the Hoords for the practise of their life Which are of this sort First To obey their Emperour and other Magistrates whatsoeuer they commaunde about the publique seruice 2. Except for the publique behoofe euery man to be free and out of controlement 3. No priuate man to possesse any lands but the whole countrey to be as a common 4. To neglect all daintinesse and varietie of meates and to content themselues with that which commeth next to hand for more hardnesse and readinesse in the executing of their affaires 5. To weare any base attire and to patch their clothes whether there bee anie neede or not that when there is neede it bee no shame to weare a patcht coate 6 To take or steale from anie stranger whatsoeuer they can gette as beeyng enemies to all men saue to such as will subiect themselues to them 7. Towardes their owne hoorde and nation to be true in word and deede 8. To suffer no stranger to come within the Realme If any doe the same to bee bondslaue to him that first taketh him except such marchants and other as haue the Tartar Bull or pastport about them Of the Permians Samoites Of the Permians Samoites and Lappes The 20. Chapter THe Permians Samoits that lye frō Russia north Northeast are thought likewise to haue takē their beginning from the Tartar kind And it may partly be gessed by the fashion of their countenance as hauing all broade flat faces as the Tartars haue except the Chirchasses The Permians are accounted for a very ancient people They are now subiect to the Russe They liue by hunting and trading with their furres as doth also the Samoyt that dwelleth more towardes the North sea The Samoyt hath his name as the Russe saith of eating himselfe as if in times past they liued as the Cannibals eating one another Which they make more probable because at this time they eat all kind of raw flesh whatsoeuer it bee euen the very carion that lieth in the ditch But as the Samoits themselues wil say they were called Samoie that is of themselues as though they were Indigenae or people bredde vpon that very soyle that neuer changed their seat from one place to another as most nations haue done They are subiect at this time to the Emperour of Russia I talked with certeine of them and finde that they acknowledge one God but represent him by such things as they haue most vse and good by And therfore they worship the Sun the Ollen the Losh and such like As for the storie of Slata Baba or the Golden hagge which I haue read in some mappes and descriptions of these countries to bee an idole after the forme of an olde woman that being demaunded by the Priest giueth them certeyne Oracles concerning the successe and euent of thinges I haue founde it to bee but a verye fable Onelie in the Prouince of Obdoria vpon the Sea side neare to the mouth of the great riuer Obba there is a rocke which naturally beeing somewhat helped by imagination may seeme to beare the shape of a ragged woman with a child in her armes as the rock by the North cape the shape of a Frier where the Obdorian Samoites vse much to resort by reason of the commoditie of the place for fishing and there sometime as their manner is conceiue and practise their sorceries and ominous coniecturings about the good or bad speed of their iourneies fishings huntings and such like They are clad in Seale skins with the hearie side outwards downe as low as the knees with their breeches and netherstocks of the same both men and women They are all blacke haired naturally beardlesse And therefore the men are hardly discerned from the women by their looks saue that the women weare a lock of haire down along both their eares They liue in a maner a wilde and a sauage life rouing stil from one place of the countrey to another without anie propertie of house or land more to one then to an other Their leader or directer in euery companie is their Papa or Priest On the North side of Russia next to Corelia lieth the countrey of Lappia which reacheth in length from the farthest poynt Northward towardes the Northcape to the farthest part Southeast which the Russe calleth Sweetnesse or Holie nose the English men Capegrace about 345. verst or miles Frō Sweetnesse to Candelox by the way of Versega which measureth the breadth of that countrey is 90. miles or there abouts The whole countrey in a manner is eyther lakes or mountaines which towardes the Sea side are called Tondro because they are all of hard and craggy rocke but the inland partes are well furnished with woods that growe on the hilles sides the lakes lying betweene Their diet is very bare simple Bread they haue none but feed onely vpon fish fowle They are subiect to the Emperour of Russia and the two Kings of Sweden and Denmark which all exact tribute and custome of them as was said before but the Emperour of Russia beareth the greatest hand ouer them and exact of them farre more then the rest The opinion is that they were first termed Lappes of their briefe and short speach The Russe deuideth the whole natiō of the Lappes into two sorts The one they call Nowremanskoy Lapary that is the Noruegian Lappes because they be of the Danish religion For the Danes and Noruegians they account for one people The other that haue no religion at all but liue as brute and Heathenish people without God in the world they call Dikoy Lopary or the wild Lappes The whole nation is vtterly vnlearned hauing not so much as the vse of any Alphabet or letter among them For practise of witchcraft and sorcery they passe all nations in the world Though for
the enchaunting of shippes that saile along their coast as I haue heard it reported and their giuing of winds good to their friends and contrary to other whom they meane to hurt by tying of certein knots vpon a rope somewhat like to the tale of Aeolus his windbag is a very fable deuised as may seeme by themselues to terrifie sailers for comming neare their coast Their weapons are the long bow and handgunne wherein they excell aswell for quicknes to charge and discharge as for nearnesse at the marke by reason of their cōntinuall practise wherto they are forced of shooting at wild fowle Their manner is in Sommer time to come downe in great companies to the sea side to Wardhuyse Cola Kegor and the bay of Vedagoba there to fish for Codd Salmon But-fish which they sell to the Russes Danes Noruegians and now of late to the English mē that trade thither with cloth which they exchaunge with the Lappes and Corelians for their fish oile and furres whereof also they haue some store They hold their mart at Cola on S. Peters day what time the Captain of Wardhuyse that is resiant there for the king of Denmarke must be present or at least send his deputie to set prices vpon their stockfish traine oile furres and other commodities as also the Russe Emperours customer or tribute taker to receiue his custome which is euer payed before any thing can be bought or sold When their fishing is done their māner is to drawe their carbasses or boates on shoare there to leaue them with the keele turned vpwardes till the next spring tide Their trauaile too fro is vpon sleds drawen by the Olen deer which they vse to turne a grasing all the Sommer time in an iland called Kilden of a very good soile compared with other partes of that countrie and towards the winter time when the snow beginneth to fall they fetch them home again for the vse of their sledde Of their Ecclesiasticall state with their Church offices The 21. Chapter COncerning the gouernement of their Churche it is framed altogether after the māner of the Greek as being a part of that Church and neuer acknowledging the iurisdiction of the Latine Church vsurped by the Pope That I may keepe a better measure in describing their ceremonies thē they in the vsing them wherein they are infinite I will note briefly First what Ecclesiasticall degrees or offices they haue with the iurisdiction and practise of them Secondly what doctrine they holde in matter of religion Thirdly what leiturgie or forme of seruice they vse in their Churches with the manner of their administring the Sacramēts Fourthly what other straunge ceremonies and superstitious deuotions are vsed among them Their offices or degrees of Churchmen are as many in number and the same in a manner both in name and degree that were in the Westerne churches First they haue their Patriarch then their Metropolites their Archbishops their Vladikey or Bishops their Protopapes or Archpriests their Papes or Priests their Deacons Friers Monkes Nunnes and Eremites Their Patriarch or chiefe directer in matter of religion vntill this last yeare was of the citie of Constantinople whom they called the Patriarch of Sio because being driuen by the Turke out of Constantinople the seate of his Empire he remoued to the Ile Sio sometimes called Chio and there placed his Patriarchiall sea So that the Emperours and clergie of Russia were wont yearely to send gifts thither and to acknowledge a spirituall kind of homage and subiection due to him and to that Church Which custome they haue held as it seemeth euer since they professed the Christian religiō Which how long it hath bene I could not well learne for that they haue no storie or monument of antiquitie that I could heare of to shewe what hath bene done in times past within their countrie concerning either Church or common wealth matters Onely I heare a report among them that about three hundred yeares since there was a marriage betwixt the Emperour of Constantinople the kings daughter of that countrie who at the first denied to ioyne his daughter in marriage with the Greeke Emperour because he was of the Christian religion Which agreeth well with that I finde in the storie of Laonicus Chalcacondylas concerning Turkish affaires in his fourth booke where hee speaketh of such a marriage betwixt Iohn the Greeke Emperour and the Kings daughter of Sarmatia And this argueth out of their owne report that at that time they had not receyued the Christian religion as also that they were conuerted to the faith and withall peruerted at the very same time receyuing the doctrine of the gospell corrupted with superstitions euen at the first when they tooke it from the Greeke Church which it selfe then was degenerate and corrupted with many superstitions and fowle errours both in doctrine and discipline as may appeare by the story of Nicephorus Gregoras in his 8. and 9. bookes But as touching the time of their conuersion to the christiā faith I suppose rather that it is mistaken by the Russe for that which I find in the Polonian storie the secōd booke the third chapter where is said that about the yeare 990. Vlodomirus Duke of Russia married one Anne sister to Basilius and Constantinus brothers Emperours of Constantinople Wherupon the Russe receiued the faith profession of Christ Which though it be somewhat more auncient then the time noted before out of the Russe report yet it falleth out al to one reckoning touching this point vz in what truth and sinceritie of doctrine the Russe receiued the first stampe of religion for asmuch as the Greeke church at that time also was many waies infected with errour and superstition At my being there the yere 1588 came vnto the Mosko the Patriarch of Constātinople or Sio called Hieronomo being banished as some said by the Turke as some other reported by the Greeke clergie depriued The Emp. being giuen altogether to superstitious deuotions gaue him great intertainment Before his cōming to Mosko he had bene in Italy with the Pope as was reported ther by some of his cōpany His arrād was to cōsult with the Emp. concerning these points First about a league to passe betwixt him the king of Spaine as the meetest Prince to ioyne with him in opposition against the Turke To which purpose also Ambassages had passed betwixt the Russe the Persian Likewise from the Georgians to the Emperour of Russia to ioyne league together for the inuading of the Turke on all sides of his dominion taking the aduantage of the simple qualitie of the Turke that now is This treatie was helped forward by the Emperours Ambassadour of Almaine sent at the same time to solicite an inuasion vpon the parts of Polonia that lie towards Rusland and to borrow mony of the Russe Emperour to pursue the warre for his brother Maximilian against the Swedens son now king of Poland But this
to the Alkaben saue that it is made without a coller for the neck And this is commonly of fine cloth or Camels haire His bus kins which he weareth in stead of hose with linnen folles vnder them in steed of boot hose are made of a Persian leather called Saphian embrodered with pearle His vpper stockes commonly are of cloth of gold When he goeth abroad he mounteth on horsebacke though it be but to the next doore which is the manner also of the Boiarskey or Gentlemen The Boiarskey or Gentlemans attire is of the same fashion but differeth in stuffe and yet he will haue his Caftan or vndercoat sometimes of cloth of gold the rest of cloth or silke The Noble woman called Chyna Boiarshena weareth on hir head first a caull of some soft silke which is commonly redde and ouer it a fruntlet called Obrosa of white colour Ouer that hir cap made after the coife fashion of cloth of gold called Shapka Zempska edged with some riche furre and set with pearle and stone Though they haue of late begonne to disdaine embrodering with pearle about their cappes because the Diacks and some Marchants wiues haue taken vp the fashion In their eares they weare earerings which they call Sargee of two inches or more compasse the matter of gold set with Rubies or Saphires or some like pretious stone In Sommer they goe often with kerchieffes of fine white lawne or Cambricke fastned vnder the chinne with two long tassels pendent The kerchiefe spotted and set thicke with rich pearle When they ride or goe abroad in raynie weather they weare white hattes with coloured bands called Stapa Zemskoy About their necks they were collers of three or foure fingers broad set with riche pearle and pretious stone Their vpper garment is a loose gowne called Oposhen commonly of skarlet with wide loose sleeues hanging downe to the ground buttened before with great gold buttons or at least siluer and guilt night as bigge as a walnut Which hath hanging ouer it fastned vnder the cappe a large broad cape of some riche furre that hangeth downe almost to the middes of their backes Next vnder the Oposken or vpper garment they weare another called a Leitnick that is made close before with great wide sleeues the cuffe or half sleeue vp to the elbowes commonly of cloth of golde and vnder that a Ferris Zemskoy which hangeth loose buttoned throughout to the very foote On the hand wrests they weare very faire braselets about two fingers broad of pearle and pretious stone They go all in buskins of white yellow blew or some other coloured leather embrodered with pearle This is the attire of the Noblewoman of Russia when shee maketh the best shew of hir selfe The Gentlewomans apparell may differ in the stuffe but is all one for the making or fashion As for the poore Mousick and his wife they go poorely cladde The man with his Odnoratkey or loose gowne to the small of the legge tyed together with a lace before of course white or blew cloth with some Shube or long wastcoat of furre or of sheepskinne vnder it and his furred cappe and buskins The poorer sort of them haue their Odnoratkey or vpper garment made of Kowes haire This is their winter habite In the sommer time commonly they weare nothing but their shirts on their backes and buskins on their legges The woman goeth in a redde or blew gowne when she maketh the best shew and with some warme Shube of furre vnder it in the winter time But in the Sommer nothing but her two shirts for so they call thē one ouer the other whether they be within doores or without On their heades they weare caps of some coloured stuffe many of veluet or of cloth of golde but for the most part kerchiefes Without earings of siluer or some other mettall and her crosse about her necke you shal see no Russe woman be shee wife or maide As touching their behauiour and quality otherwise they are of reasonable capacities if they had those means that some other nations haue to traine vp their wittes in good nurture and learning Which they might borrowe of the Polonians and other their neighbours but that they refuse it of a very self pride as accounting their owne fashions to be far the best Partly also as I said before for that their manner of bringing vp voide of all good learning and ciuill behauiour is thought by their gouernours most agreable to that State and their manner of gouernment Which the people would hardely beare if they were once ciuilled brought to more vnderstanding of God and good policie This causeth the Emperours to keep out al meanes of making it better and to be very warie for excluding of all peregrinitie that might alter their fashions Which were lesse to bee disliked if it set not a print into the very mindes of his people For as themselues are verie hardlie and cruellie dealte withall by their chiefe Magistrates and other superiours so are they as cruell one against an other specially ouer their inferiours and such as are vnder them So that the basest wretchedest Christianoe as they call him that stoupeth and croucheth like a dogge to the Gentleman and licketh vp the dust that lieth at his feete is an intollerable tyrant where he hath the aduantage By this meanes the whole Countrie is filled with rapine and murder They make no account of the life of a man You shall haue a man robbed sometime in the very streats of their townes if hee goe late in the euening and yet no man to come forth out of his doores to rescue him though hee heare him crie out I will not speake of the straungenesse of the murders and other cruelties committed among them that would scarsly bee beleeued to bee done among men specially such as professe themselues Christians The number of their vagrant and begging poore is almost infinite that are so pinched with famine and extreame neede as that they begge after a violent and desperate manner with giue mee and cut mee giue mee and kill mee and such like phrases Whereby it may bee gheassed what they are towardes straungers that are so vnnaturall and cruell towardes their owne And yet it may bee doubted whither is the greater the crueltie or intemperancie that is vsed in that countrie I will not speake of it because it is so soule and not to bee named The whole countrie ouerfloweth with all sinne of that kinde And no marueile as hauing no lawe to restraine whoredomes adulteries and like vncleannesse of life As for the truth of his word the Russe for the most part maketh small regard of it so he may gaine by a lie and breache of his promise And it may be saide truely as they know best that haue traded most with them that from the great to the small except some fewe that will scarcely be founde the Russe neither beleeueth any thing that an other