dents or notches at every corner and so clasped fast together Betwixt the trees or timber they thrust in mosse whereof they gather plentie in their woods to keep out the aire Every house hath a pair of stairs that lead up into the chambers out of the yard of street after the Scottish manner This building seemeth farre better for their countrey then that of stone and brick as being colder and more dampish then their wooden houses specially of firre that is a drie and warm wood whereof the providence of God hath given them such store as that you may build a fair house for twentie or thirtie rubbels or little more where wood is most scant The greatest inconvenience of their wooden building is the aptnesse for firing which happeneth very oft and in very fearfull 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 up CHAP. V. Of the house or stock of the Russe Emperours THe sirname of the imperiall house of Russia is called Beala It took the originall as is supposed from the Kings of Hungarie Which may seem the more probable for that the Hungarian Kings many years ago have born that name as appeareth by Bonfinius and other Stories written of that countrey For about the year 1059. mention is made of one Beala 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 blind after whom succeeded divers of the same name That their ancestrie came not of the Russe nation Ivan Vasilowich father to this Emperour would many times boast disdaining as should seem to have his progenie derived from the Russe bloud As namely to an English man his goldsmith that had received bullion of him to make certain plate whom the Emperour commanded to look well to his weight For my Russes said he arâ— thieves all Whereat the workman looking upon the Emperour began to smile The Emperour being of quick conceit charged him to tell him what he smiled at If your Majestie will pardon me quoth the goldsmith I will tell you Your highnesse said that the Russes were all thieves and forgot in the mean while that your self was a Russe I thought so quoth the Emperour but thou art deceived For I am no Russe my ancestours were Germanes for so they account of the Hungarians to be part of the Germane nation though indeed they come of the Hunnes that invaded those countreys 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 conquest or by marriage or by what other means I could not learn any certaintie among them That from these beginnings of a small Dukedome that bare notwithstanding an absolute government with it as at that time did also the other Shires or Provinces of Russia this house of Beala spread it self forth and aspired by degrees to the monarchie of the whole countrey is a thing well known and of very late memorie The chief of that house that advanced the stock and enlarged their dominions were the three last that reigned before this Emperour to wit Juan Basileus and Juan father to the other that reigneth at this time Whereof the first that took unto him the name and title of Emperour was Basileus father to Juan and grandfather to this man For before that time they were contented to be called great dukes of Mosko What hath been done by either of these three and how much they have added to their first estate by conquest or otherwise may be seen in the chapter of their colonies or purchases perforce For the continuance of the race this house of Beala at this present is in like case as are many of the greatest houses of Christendome viz. the whole stock and race concluded in one two or some few of the bloud For besides the Emperour that now is who hath no child neither is like ever to have for ought that may be conjectured by the constitution of his body and the barennesse of his wife after so many years marriage there is but one more viz. a child of six or seven years 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 blow given him by his father upon the head in his furie with his walking staff or as some say of a thrust with the prong of it driven deep into his head That he meant him no such mortall harm when he gave him the blow may appear by his mourning and passion after his sons death which never left him till it brought him to the grave Wherein may be marked the justice of God that punished his delight in shedding of bloud with this murder of his sonne by his own hand and so ended his dayes and tyrannie together with the murdering of himself by extreme grief for this his unhappie and unnaturall fact The Emperours younger brother of six or seven years old as was said before is kept in a remote place from the Mosko under the tuition of his mother her kindred of the house of the Nagaies yet not safe as I have heard from attempts of making away by practice of some that aspire to the succession if this Emperour die without any issue The nurse that tasted before him of certain meat as I have heard died presently That he is naturall sonne to Ivan Vasilowich the Russe people warrant it by the Fathers qualitie that beginneth to appear already in his tender years He is delighted they say to see sheep and other cattel killed and to look on their throats while they are bleeding which commonly children are afraid to behold and to beat geese and hens with a staff till he see them lie dead Besides these of the male kind there is a widow that hath right in the succession sister to the old Emperour and aunt to this man sometime wife to Magnus Duke of Holâ—t brother to the king of Denmark by whom she had one daughter This woman since the death of her husband hath been allured again into Russia by some that love the succession better then herself which appeareth by the sequele For herself with her daughter so soon as they were returned into Russia were thrust into a Nunnerie where her daughter died this last year while I was in the countrey of no naturall disease as was supposed The mother remaineth still in the Nunnerie where as I have heard she bewaâ—â—eth herself and curseth the time when she returned into Russia entised with the hope of marriage and other fair promises in the Emperours name Thus it standeth with the imperiall stock of Russia of the house of Beala which
which is nothing else as we say but water turned out of his wits with a little branne meashed with it This diet would breed in them many diseases but that they use bathstoves or hot-houses in stead of all Physick commonly twice or thrice every week All the winter-time and almost the whole Summer they heat there Peaches which are made like the Germane bathstoves and their Potlads like ovens that so warm the house that a stranger at the first shall hardly like of it These two extremities specially in the winter of heat within their houses and of extreme cold without together with their dieâ— maketh them of a dark and fallow complexion their skinnes being tanned and parched both with cold and with heat specially the women that for the greater part are of farre worse complexions then the men Whereof the cause I take to be their keeping within the hot houses and busying themselves about the heating and using of their bathstoves and peaches The Russe because that he is used to both these extremities of heat and of cold can bear them both a great deal more patiently then strangers can do You shall see them sometimes to season their bodies come out of their bathstoves all on a froth and fuming as hot almost as a pig at a spit and presently to leap into the â—…ver stark naked 〈◊〉 or to poure cold water all â—verâ— their bodies and that in the coldest of all the winter-time The women to mend the bad hue of their skinnes use to paint their faces with white and red colours so visibly that every man may perceive it Which is made no matter because it is common and liked well by their husbands who make their wives and daughters an ordinary allowance to buy them colours to paint their faces withall and delight themselves much to see thâ—m of fowl women to become such fair images This parcheth the skin and helpeth to deform them when their painting is off They apparel themselves after the Greek manner The Noblemans attire is on this fashion First a Taffia or little night cap on his head that covereth little more then his crown commonly very rich wrought of silk and gold thread and set with pearl precious stone His head be keepeth shaven close to the very skin except he be in some displeasure with the Emperour Then he suffereth his hair to grow and hang down upon his shoulders covering his face as uggly and deformedly as he can Over the Taffia he weareth a wide cap of black Fox which they account for the best furre with a Tiara or long bonnet put within it standing up like a Persian or Babylonian hat About his neck which is seen all bare is a coller set with pearl and precious stone about three or foure fingers broad Next over his shirt which is curiously wrought because he strippeth himself into it in the Summer time while he is within the house is a Shepon or light garment of silk made down to the knees buttoned before and then a Caftan or a close coat buttoned and girt to him with a Persian girdle whereat he hangs his knives and spoon This commonly is of cloth of gold and hangeth down as low as his ancles Over that he weareth a loose garment of some rich silk furred and faced about with some gold lace called a Ferris Another over that of chamlet or like stuff called an Alkaben sleeved and hanging low and the cape commonly broached and set all with pearl When he goeth abroad he casteth over all these which are but sleight though they seem to be many another garment called an Honoratkey like to the Alkaben save that it is made without a coller for the neck and this is commonly of fine cloth or Camels hair His buskins which he weareth in stead of â—osâ— with linen folles under them in stead of boot-hose are made of a Persian leather called Saphion embroidered with pearl His upper stocks commonly age of cloth of gold When he goeth abroad he mounteth on horsebâ—â—k though it be but to the next doore which is the manner also of the Boiarskey oâ— Gentlemen The Baiarskey or Gentlemans attire is of the same fashion but differeth in stuff and yet he will have his Caftan or undercoat sometimes of cloth of gold the rest of cloth or silk The Noblewoman called Chyna Boiarsâ—ena weareth on her head first â—cauâ— of some soft silk which is commonly red and over it a frontleâ— called Obrosa of white colour over that her cap made after the coif fashion of cloth of gold called Shapka Zempska edged with some rich furre and set with pearl and stone Though they have of late begun to disdain embroidering with pearl about their caps because the Dyacks and some Merchants wives have taken up the fashion In their ears they wear ear-rings 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 summer they go often with kerchiefs of fine white lawn or cambrick fastned under the chinne with two long tassels pendent The kerchief spotted set thick with rich pearl When they ride or go abroad in rainie weather they wear white hats with coloured bands called Stapa Zemskoy About their necks they wear collers of three or foure fingers broad set with rich pearl and precious stone Their upper garment is a loose gown called Oposken commonly of skarlet with wide loose sleeves hanging down to the ground but tened before with great gold buttons or at least silver and guilt nigh as big as a walnut Which hath hanging over it fastned under the cap a large broad cape of some rich furre that hangeth down almost to the middes of their backs Next under the Oposken or upper garment they wear another called a Leitnick that is made close before with great wide sleeves the cuff or half sleeve up to the elbows commonly of cloth of gold and under that a Ferris Zemskoy which hangeth loose buttoned throughout to the very foot On the handwrests they wear very fair bracelets about two fingers broad of pearl and precious stone They go all in buskins of white yellow blue or some other coloured leather embroidered with pearl This is the attire of the Noblewomen of Russia when she maketh the best shew of her self The Gentlewomans apparell may differ in the stuff but is all one for the making or fashion As for the poore Mousick and his wife they go poorly clad The man with his Odnoratkey or loose gown to the small of the legge tyed together with a lace before of course white or blue cloth with some Shube or long wastcote of furre or of sheep-skinne under it and his furred cap and buskins The poorer sort of them have their Odnoratkey or upper garment made of Cows hair This is their winter habit In the summer time commonly they wear nothing but their shirts on their backs and buskins on their legges The woman goeth in
down aswell for the keeping of the Nobilitie and Commons in an under-proportion and farre uneven ballance in their severall degrees as also in their impositions and exactions wherein they exceed all just 〈◊〉 without any regard of Nobilitie 〈◊〉 People Further then it giveth 〈◊〉 Nobilitie a kind of unjust and 〈◊〉 measured 〈◊〉 to command and 〈◊〉 upon the 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 sort of people in all parts of the realm wheresoever they come specially in the place where their lands lie or where they are appointed by the Emperour to govern under him also to the Commons some small contentment in that they passe over their lands by descent of inheritance to whether sonne they will which commonly they do after our Gavelkind and dispose of their goods by gift or testament without any controlement Wherein notwithstanding both Nobilitie and Commons are but storers for the Prince all running in the end into the Emperours coffers as may appear by the practice of enriching his treasurie and the manner of exactions set down in the title of his customes and revenues Concerning the principall points and matters of State wherein the Sovereigntie consisteth as the making and annulling publick of Laws the making of Magistrates power to make warre or league with any forein State to execute or to pardon life with the right of appeal in all matters both civil and criminall they do so wholly and absolutely pertain to the Emperour and his Councel under him as that he may be said to be both the Sovereigne commander and the executioner of all these For as touching any Law or publick order of the Realm it is ever determined of before any publick assembly or Parliament be summoned Where besides his Councel he hath none other to consult with him of such matters as are concluded beforehand but onely a few Bishops Abbots and Friers to no other end then to make advantage of the peoples superstitions even against themselves which think all to be holy and just that passeth with consent of their Bishops and clergie men whatsoever it be For which purpose the Emperours are content to make much of the corrupt state of the Church as now it is among them and to nourish the same by extraordinary favours and immunities to the Bishops Seas Abbeys and Frieries as knowing superstition and false religion best to agree with a tyrannicall state and to be a speciall means to uphold and maintain the same Secondly as touching the publick Offices Magistracies of the Realm there is none hereditarie neither any so great nor so little in that countrey but the bestowing of it is done immediately by the Emperour himself Insomuch that the very Diacks or Clerks in every head town are for the most part assigned by himself Notwithstanding the Emperour that now is the better to entend his devotions referreth all such matters pertaining to the State wholly to the ordering of his wives brother the L. Borris Federowich Godonoe Thirdly the like is to be said of the jurisdiction concerning matters judiciall specially such as concern life and death Wherein there is none that hath any authoritie or publick jurisdiction that goeth by descent or is held by charter but all at the appointment and pleasure of the Emperour and the same practised by the Judges with such aw and restraint as that they dare not determine upon any speciall matter but must referre the same wholly up to the Mosko to the Emperours Councel To shew his Sovereigntie over the lives of his subjects the late Emperour Juan Vasilowich in his walks or progresses if he had misliked the face or person of any man whom he met by the way or that looked upon him would command his head to be struck off which was presently done and the head cast before him Fourthly for the sovereigne appeal giving of pardons in criminall matters to such as are convicted it is wholly at the pleasure and grace of the Emperour Wherein also the Empresse that now is being a woman of great clemencie and withall delighting to deal in publick affairs of the Realm the rather to supplie the defect of her husband doth behave herself after an absolute manner giving out pardon specially on her birth-day and other solemn times in her own name by open proclamation without any mention at all of the Emperour Some there have been of late of the ancient Nobilitie that have held divers provinces by right of inheritance with an absolute authoritie and jurisdiction over them to order and determine all matters within their own precinct without all appeal or controlment of the Emperour But this was all annulled and wrung clean from them by Juan Vasilowich father to this Emperour CHAP. VIII The manner of holding their Parliaments THeir highest Court of publick consultation for matter of State is called the Zabore that is the Publick Assembly The states and degrees of persons that are present a their Parliaments are these in order 1. The Emperour himself 2. Some of his Nobilitie about the number 〈◊〉 twentie being all of his Councel 3. Certain of the Clergie men 〈◊〉 about the same number As for But ghers or other to represent the coâ—… munaltie they have no place them the people being of no better accoâ—… with them then as servants or boâ—… slaves that are to obey not to 〈◊〉 laws nor to know any thing publick matters before they are concluded The Court of Parliament called Zabore is held in this manner The Emperour causeth to be summoned such of his Nobilitie as himself thinketh meet being as was said all of his Councel together with the Patriarch who calleth his Clergie to â—it the two Metropolites the two Archbishops with such Bishops Abbots and Friers as are of best account and reputation among them When they are all assembled at the Emperours court the day is intimated when the session shall begin Which commonly is upon some friday for the religion of that day When the day is come the Clergie men assemble before at the time and place appointed which is called the Stollie And when the Emperour cometh attended by his Nobilitie they arise all and meet him in an out room following their Patriarch who blesseth the Emperour with his two forefingers laying them on his forehead and the sides of his face and then kisseth him on the right side of his breast So they passe on into their Parliament house where they sit in this order The Emperour is enthronized on the one side of the chamber In the next place not farre from him at a small square table that giveth room to twelve persons or thereabouts sitteth the Patriarch with the Metropolites and Bishops and certain of the principall Nobilitie of the Emperours Councel together with two Diacks or Secretaries called Dumnoy dyakey that enact that which passeth The rest place themselves on benches round about the room every man in his rank after his degree Then is there propounded by one of the Secretaries who representeth the speaker
not one another till the marriage be solemnized On the eve before the marriage day the bride is carried in a Collimago or coach or in a sâ—edde if it be winter to the bridegroomâ— house with her marriage-apparel and bedsted with her which they are to lie in For this is ever provided by the Bride and is commonly very fair with much cost bestowed upon it Here she is accompanied all that night by her mother and other women but not welcomed nor once seen by the Bridegroom himself When the time is come to have the marriage solemnized the Bride hath put upon her a kind of hood made of fine knitwork or lawn that covereth her head and all her body down to the middle and so accompanied with her friends and the bridegroom with his they go to Church all on horseback though the Church be near hand and themselves but of very mean degree The words of contract and other ceremonies in solemnizing the marriage are much after the order and with the same words that are used with us with a ring also given to the Bride Which being put on and the words of contract pronounced the Brides â—and is delivered into the hand of the Bridegroom which standeth all this while on the one side of the altar or table and the Bride on the other So the marriage knot being knit by the Priest the Bride cometh to the Bridegroom standing at the end of the altar or table and falleth down at his feet knocking her head upon his shoe in token of her subjection and obedience And the Bridegroom again casteth the lap of his gown or upper garment over the Bride in token of his dutie to protect and cherish her Then the Bridegroom and Bride standing both together at the tables end cometh first the father and the other friends of the Bride bow themselves down low to the Bridegroom and so likewise his friends bow themselves to the Bride in token of affinitie and love ever after betwixt the two kindreds And withall the father of the Bridegroom offereth to the Priest a loaf of bread who delivereth it straight again to the father and other friends of the Bride with attestation before God and their idols that he deliver the dowrie wholly and truly at the day appointed and hold love ever after one kindred with another Whereupon they break the loaf into pieces and eat of it to testifie their true and sincere meanings for performing of that charge and thenceforth to become as grains of one loaf or men of one table These ceremonies being ended the Bridegroom taketh the Bride by the hand and so they go on together with their friends after them towards the Church-porch where meet them certain with pots and cups in their hands with mead and Russe wine whereof the Bridegroom taketh first a chark or little cup full in his hand and drinketh to the Bride who opening her hood or veil below and putting the cup to her mouth underneath it for being seen of the Bridegroom pledgeth him again Thus returning alâ—ogether from the Church the Bridegroom goeth not home to his own but to his fathers house and she likewise to hers where either entertain their friends apart At the entring into the house they use to flâ—ng corn out of the windows upon the Bridegroom and Bride in tâ—kâ—n of plentie and fruitfulnesse to be with them ever after When the Evening is come the Bride is brought to the Bridegrooms fathers house and there lodgeth that night with her veil or cover still over her head All that night she may not speak one word for that charge she receiveth by tradition from her mother other matrons her friends that the Bridegroom must neither heare nor see her till the day after the marriage Neither three dayes after may she be heard to speak save certain few words at the table in a set form with great manners and reverence to the Bridegroom If she behave herself otherwise it is a great prejudice to her credit and life ever after and will highly be disliked of the Bridegroom himself After the third day they depart to their own and make a feast to both their friends together The marriage day and the whole time of their festivall the Bridegroom hath the honour to be called Moloday Knez or young Duke and the Bride Moloday Knezay or young Dutchesse In living with their wives they shew themselves to be but of a barbarous condition using them as servants rather then wives except the noble-Noble-women which are or seem to be of more estimation with their husbands then the rest of meaner sort They have this foul abuse contrary to good order and the word of God it self that upon dislike of his wife or other cause whatsoever the man may go into a Monasterie and shier himself a Frier by pretence of devotion and so leave his wife to shift for herself so well as she can CHAP. XXV Of the other Ceremonies of the Russe Church THe other ceremonies of their Church are many in number especially the abuse about the signe of the Crosse which they set up in their high-wayes in the tops of their Churches and in every doore of their houses signing themselves continually with it on their foreheads and breasts with great devotion as they will seem by their outward gesture Which were lesse offence if they gave not withall that religious reverence and worship unto it which is due to God onely and used the dumbe shew and signing of it instead of thanksgiving and of all other duties which they ow unto God When they rise to the morning they go commonly in the sight of some steeple that hath a crosse on the top and so bowing themselves towards the crosse signe themselves withall on their foreheads and breasts And this is their thanksgiving to God for their nights rest without any word speaking except peradventure they say Aspody Pomeluy or Lord have mercie upon us When they sit down to meat and rise again from it the thanksgiving to God is the crossing of their foreheads and breasts except it be some few that adde peradventure a word or two of some ordinarie prayer impertinent to that purpose When they are to give an oath for the deciding of any controversie at Law they do it by swearing by the Crosse and kissing the fâ—et of it making it as God whose name onely is to be used in such triall of justice When they enter into any house where ever there is an idol hanging on the wall they signe themselves with the crosse and bow themselves to it When they begin any work be it little or much they arm themselves first with the signe of the crosse And this commonly is all their prayer to God for good speed of their businesse And thus they serve God with crosses after a crosse and vain manner not understanding what the crosse of Christ is nor the power of it And yet they think all strangers Christians