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
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
payment the creditour may take them to bee his bondslaues for yeares or for euer according as the value of the debt requireth Such kinde of suites as lacke direct euidence or stande vpon coniectures and circumstances to bee waighed by the Iudge drawe of great length and yeeld great aduantage to the Iudge and officers If the suite be vpon a bond or bill they haue for the moste parte good and speedy iustice Their bonds or billes are drawen in a very plaine sorte after this tenour I Iuan Vasileo haue borrowed of Alphonasse Dementio the summe of one hundred rubbles of going money of Mosko from the Kreshenea or hallowing of the water vntill the Saburney voscreshenea or Counsell Sunday without interest And if this money rest vnpayed after that day then hee shall giue interest vpon the sayd money after the common rate as it goeth among the people vz. for euerie fiue the sixt rubbell Vpon this there are witnesses Micheta Sydroueskoy c Subscribed This bill haue I written Gabriell I acouelesni in the yeare 7096. The witnesses and debter if he can write endorse their names on the backe side of the bill Other signing or sealing haue they none When any is taken for a matter of crime as treason murder thefte and such like hee is first brought to the Duke and Diack that are for the Prouince where the partie is attached by whom hee is examined The manner of examination in such cases is all by torture as scourging with whips made of sinowes or whitleather called the Pudkey as bigge as a mans finger which giueth a sore lash and entreth into the flesh or by tying to a spit and rosting at the fire sometimes by breaking and wresting one of their ribbes with a pavre of hote tongues or cutting their flesh vnder the nayles and such like The examination thus taken withall the proofes and euidences that can bee alleadged against the partie it is sent vp to the Mosko to the Lord of the Chetfird or Fourthparte vnder whom the Prouince is and by him is presented to the Counsell table to bee read and sentenced there where onely iudgement is giuen in matter of life death and that by euidence vpon information though they neuer sawe nor heard the partie who is kept still in pryson where the fact was committed and neuer sent vp to the place where he is tried If they find the partie guiltie they giue sentence of death according to the qualitie of the fact which is sent downe by the Lord of the Chetfird to the Duke and Diack to bee put in execution The prisoner is carried to the place of execution with his handes bounde and a waxe candle burning helde betwixt his fingers Their capitall punishmentes are hanging hedding knocking on the head drowning putting vnder the yse setting on a stake and such like But for the most part the prisoners that are condemned in Sommer are kept for the winter to be knockt in the head and put vnder the yse This is to bee vnderstood of common persons For theft and murder if they be committed vpon a poore Mousick by one of Nobilitie are not lightly punished nor yet is hee called to any account for it Their reason is because they are accounted their Kolophey or bondslaues If by some Sinaboiarskey or Gentleman souldier a murder or theft bee committed peraduenture he shal be imprisoned at the Emperours pleasure If the manner of the fact be verie notorious he is whipped perchance and this is commonly all the punishment that is inflicted vpon them If a man kill his owne seruant little or nothing is said vnto him for the same reason because hee is accounted to be his Kolophey or bondslaue and so to haue right ouer his verie head The most is some small mulct to the Emperour if the partie be rich so the quarell is made rather against the purse then against the iniustice They haue no written law saue onely a smal booke that conteineth the time and manner of their sitting order in proceeding and such other iudicial forms and circumstances but nothing to direct thē to giue sentence vpon right or wrong Their onely lawe is their Speaking Law that is the pleasure of the Prince and of his Magistrates and officers Which sheweth the miserable condition of this poore people that are forced to haue them for their law and direction of iustice against whose iniustice and extreame oppression they had neede to be armed with many good and strong lawes Their forces for the warres with the chief officers and their salaries The 15. Chapter THe souldiers of Russia are called Sinaboiarskey or the sons of Gentlemen because they are all of that degree by vertue of their millitary profession For euery souldier in Russia is a gentleman and none are gentlemen but only the souldiers that take it by discent from their ancestors so that the sonne of a gentleman which is borne a souldier is euer a gentlemā a souldier withal professeth nothing els but militarie matters Whē they are of yeeres able to beare armes they come to the office of Roserade or great Constable and there present themselues who entreth their names and allotteth them certeine lands to maintein their charges for the most part the same that their fathers enioyed For the lands assigned to mainteine the army are euer certein annexed to this office without improuing or detracting one foot But that if the Emperour haue sufficient in wages the roomes being full so farre as the lande doeth extend already they are manie times deferred and haue nothing allowed them except some one portiō of the land be deuided into two Which is a cause of great disorder within that countrie when a souldier that hath many children shal haue sometimes but one intertained in the Emperours pay So that the rest hauing nothing are forced to liue by vniust and wicked shiftes that tend to the hurt oppression of the Mousick or common sort of people This inconuenience groweth by mainteining his forces in a continual succession The whole number of his souldiers in continual pay is this First he hath of his Dworaney that is Pensioners or Gard of his person to the number of 15000. horsemen with their captaines and other officers that are alwaies in a readines Of these 15000. horsemen there are three sorts or degrees which differ aswell in estimation as in wages one degree from another The first sort of them is called Dworaney Bulshey or the company of head Pensioners that haue some an hundred some fourscore rubbels a yeere and none vnder 70. The second sort are called Seredney Dworaney or the middle ranke of Pensioners These haue sixty or fiftie rubbels by the yere none vnder fourtie The third and lowest sort are the Dyta Boiarskey that is the lowe Pensioners Their salarie is thirty rubbels a yere for him that hath most some haue but fiue and twentie some twentie none vnder twelue Whereof the
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
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
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
charge of them ouer to the Archbishops besides the ordering of their owne diocesse Their Archbishops are foure of Smolensko Cazon Vobsko and Vologda The partes of their office is all one with the Metropolits saue that they haue an vnder iurisdiction as Suffraganes to the Metropolites and superiours to the Bishops The next are the Vladikeis or Bishops that are but sixe in all of Crutitska of Rezan of Otfer and Torshock of Collomenska of Volodemer of Susdalla These haue euery one a very large diocesse as diuiding the rest of the whole countrie among them The matters perteyning to the Ecclesiasticall iurisdiction of the Metropolites Archbishops and Bishops are the same in a manner that are vsed by the Cleargie in other partes of Christendome For besides their authoritie ouer the Cleargie and ordering such matters as are meare Ecclesiasticall their iurisdiction extendeth to all testamentarie causes matters of marriage and diuorcementes some pleas of iniuries c. To which purpose also they haue their Officials or Commissaries which they call Boiaren Vladitskey that are Lay-men of the degree of Dukes or Gentlemen that keepe their Courtes and execute their iurisdiction Which besides their other oppressions ouer the common people raigne ouer the Priestes as the Dukes Diacks doo ouer the poore people within their precincts As for the Archbishop or Bishop himselfe he beareth no sway in deciding those causes that are brought into his Court. But if hee would moderate any matter hee must doo it by intreatie with his Gentleman officiall The reason is because these Boiarskey or Gentlemen officials are not appointed by the Bishops but by the Emperour himselfe or his Counsell and are to giue account of their doings to none but to them If the Bishoppe can intreat at his admission to haue the choice of his owne officiall it is accounted for a speciall great fauour But to speake it as it is the Cleargie of Russia aswell concerning their landes and reuenues as their authoritie and iurisdiction are altogether ordered and ouer ruled by the Emperour and his Counsell and haue so much and no more of both as their pleasure doth permit thē They haue also their assistants or seuerall Counsels as they call them of certeine Priests that are of their diocesse residing within their cathedrall cities to the number of foure and twentie a piece These aduise with them about the speciall and necessarie matters belonging to their charge Concerning their rentes and reuenues to mainteyne their dignities it is somewhat large The Patriarches yearely rents out of his landes besides other fees is about 3000. rubbels or markes The Metropolites and Archbishops about 2500. The Bishops some a 1000. some 800. some 500 c. They haue had some of them as I haue heard say ten or twelue thousand rubbels a yeare as had the Metropolite of Nouograde Their habite or apparell when they shewe themselues in their Pontificalibus after their solemnest manner is a miter on their heades after the popish fashion sette with pearle and pretious stone a cope on their backes commonly of cloth of golde embrodered with pearle and a Crosiers staffe in their handes layed ouer all with plate of siluer double guilt with a crosse or sheepheardes crooke at the vpper ende of it Their ordinarie habite othewise when they ride or goe abroad is a hood on their heads of blacke colour that hangeth downe their backes and standeth out like a bongrace before Their vpper garment which they call Reis is a gowne or mantell of blacke Damaske with many listes or gardes of white Sattin layed vpon it euerie garde about two fingers broad and their Crosiers staffe carried before them Themselues followe after blessing the people with their two forefingers with a marueilous grace The election and appointing of the Bishops and the rest perteyneth wholy to the Emperour himselfe They are chosen euer out of the Monasteries so that there is no Bishop Archbishop nor Metropolite but hath bene a Monke or Frier before And by that reason they are and must all bee vnmaried men for their vow of chastitie when they were first shorne When the Emperour hath appointed whom hee thinketh good he is inuested in the Cathedrall church of his dioces with many ceremonies much after the manner of the Popish inauguration They haue also their Deanes their Archdeacons As for preaching the worde of God or any teaching or exhorting such as are vnder them they neyther vse it nor haue any skill of it the whole Cleargie beyng vtterlie vnlearned bothe for other knowledge and in the word of God Onely their manner is twise euery yeere vz. the first of September which is the first day of their yere and on S. Iohn Baptists day to make an ordinarie speach to the people euery Metropolite Archbishop and Bishop in his Cathedrall Church to this or like effect That if anie be in malice towardes his neighbour hee shall leaue off his malice if any haue thought of treason or rebellion against his Prince he beware of such practise if he haue not kept his fasts and vowes nor done his other dueties to the holie Church he shal amend that fault c. And this is a matter of forme with them vttered in as many words and no more in a manner then I haue heere set downe Yet the matter is done with that grace and solemnitie in a pulpit of purpose set vp for this one Acte as if he were to discourse at large of the whole substance of diuinitie At the Mosko the Emperour himselfe is euer present at this solemne exhortation As themselues are voyde of all maner of learning so are they warie to keepe out all meanes that might bring any in as fearing to haue their ignorance and vngodlinesse discouered To that purpose they haue perswaded the Emperours that it would breed innouation and so danger to their state to haue anie noueltie of learning come within the Realme Wherein they say but trueth for that a man of spirit and vnderstāding helped by learning and liberal education can hardly indure a tyrannicall gouernment Some yeres past in the other Emperors time there came a Presse and Letters out of Polonia to the citie of Mosko where a printing house was set vp with great liking allowance of the Emperour himselfe But not long after the house was set on fire in the night time and the presse and letters quite burnt vp as was thought by the procurement of the Cleargy men Their Priestes whom they call Papaes are made by the Bishops without any great triall for worthinesse of giftes before they admit them or ceremonies in their admission saue that their heades are shorne not shauen for that they like not about an hand bredth or more in the crowne and that place annoynted with oyle by the Bishop who in his admission putteth vpon the priest first his surplesse and then setteth a white crosse on his brest of silke or some
table in a set forme with great manners and reuerence to the Bridegroome If she behaue her selfe otherwise it is a great preiudice to her credite and life euer after and will highly be disliked of the Bridegroome himselfe After the third day they depart to their owne and make a feast to both their friends together The marriage day and the whole time of their festiuall the Bridegroome hath the honour to bee called Moloday Knez or yong Duke and the Bride Moloday Knezay or young Dutchesse In liuing with their wiues they shewe themselues to be but of a barbarous condition vsing them as seruants rather then wiues Except the Noble-women which are or seeme to be of more estimation with their husbands then the rest of meaner sort They haue this fowle abuse contrary to good order and the worde of God it selfe that vpon dislike of his wife or other cause whatsoeuer the man may goe into a Monasterie and shire himselfe a Frier by pretence of deuotion and so leaue his wife to shift for her selfe so well as she can Of the other Ceremonies of the Russe Church The 25. Chapter THe other ceremonies of their Churche are manie in number especially the abuse about the signe of the Crosse which they set vp in their high wayes in the tops of their Churches and in euery doore of their houses signing themselues continually with it on their foreheads and brests with great deuotion as they will seeme by their outward gesture Which were lesse offence if they gaue not withall that religious reuerence and woorship vnto it which is due to God onely and vsed the dumbe shewe and signing of it insteede of thanksgiuing and of all other dueties which they owe vnto God When they rise in the morning they goe commonly in the sight of some steeple that hath acrosse on the toppe and so bowing themselues towardes the crosse signe themselues withal on their foreheads and brests And this is their thanksgiuing to God for their nightes rest without any word speaking except peraduenture they say Aspody Pomeluy or Lorde haue mercie vpon vs. When they sitte downe to meate and rise againe from it the thanksgiuing to God is the crossing of their foreheads and brests Except it be some few that adde peraduenture a worde or two of some ordinarie prayer impertinent to that purpose When they are to giue an oath for the deciding of anie controuersie at Lawe they doe it by swearing by the Crosse and kissing the feet of it making it as God whose name onely is to bee vsed in such triall of iustice When they enter into any house where euer there is an idole hanging on the wall they signe themselues with the crosse bow themselues to it When they begin any work bee it little or much they arme them selues first with the signe of the crosse And this cōmonly is all their prayer to God for good speede of their businesse And thus they serue God with crosses after a crosse and vaine maner not vnderstanding what the crosse of Christ is nor the power of it And yet they thinke all strangers Christians to be no better then Turkes in comparison of themselues and so they wil say because they bow not themselues when they meete with the crosse nor signe themselues with it as the Russe maner is They haue holie water in like vse and estimation as the Popish Church hath But herein they exceede them in that they doe not onely hallow their holie water stockes and tubbes ful of water but all the riuers of the countrey once euery yeere At Mosko it is done with great pompe and solemnitie the Emperour himselfe being present at it with all his Nobility marching through the streets towards the riuer of Moskua in manner of procession in this order as followeth First goe two Deacons with banners in their hands the one of Precheste or our Ladie the other of S. Michael fighting with his dragō Then follow after the rest of the Deacons the priests of Mosko two two in a ranke with coaps on their backs and their idols at their brests carried with girdles or slinges made fast about their necks Next the priests come their Bishops in their pontificalibus then the Friers Monks and Abbots and after the Patriarches in very rich attite with a ball or sphere on the top of his myter to signifie his vniuersalitie ouer that Church Last commeth the Emperor with all his nobility The whole traine is of a mile long or more When they are come to the riuer a great hole is made in the yse where the market is kept of a rod and a halfe broad with a stage round about it to keepe off the presse Then beginneth the Patriarch to say certaine praiers and coniureth the diuel to come out of the water and so casting in salt and censing it with frankincense maketh the whole riuer to become holy water The morning before all the people of Mosko vse to make crosses of chawlke ouer euerie doore and window of their houses least the Diuell beyng coniured out of the water shoulde flye into their houses When the ceremonies are ended you shal see the black Gard of the Emperours house and then the rest of the Towne with their pailes and buckets to take off the hallowed water for drinke and other vses You shall also see the women dippe in their children ouer head and eares and many men and women leape into it some naked some with their clothes on when some man woulde thinke his finger woulde freese off if hee should but dippe it into the water When the men haue done they bring their horse to the riuer to drinke of the sanctified water and so make them as holie as a horse Their set day for this solemne action of hallowing their riuers is that we cal Twelfthday The like is done by other Bishops in al parts of the Realme Their maner is also to giue it to their sick in their greatest extremitie thinking that it will eyther recouer them or sanctifie them to God Whereby they kill many through their vnreasonable superstition as did the Lord Borris his onely sonne at my beyng at the Mosko whom he killed as was said by the phisitions by powring into him colde holie water and presenting him naked into the Church to their Saynt Basileo in the colde of the Winter in an extremitie of sicknesse They haue an image of Christ which they call Neruchi which signifieth as much as Made without hands for so their priests superstition withal perswadeth them it was This in their processions they carry about with them on high vpon a pole enclosed within a Pixe made like a lanthorn and doe reuerence to it as to a great mysterie At euery brewing their maner is likewise to bring a dish of their woort to the Priest within the Church which beyng hallowed by him is powred into the brewing and so giueth it such a vertue as
man speaketh nor speaketh any thing himselfe worthie to be beleeued These qualities make theÌ„ very odious to all their neighbours specially to the Tartars that account themselues to be honest and iust in comparision of the Russe It is supposed by some that doe well consider of the state of both countries that the offence they take at the Russe gouernment and their maner of behauiour hath beene a great cause to keepe the Tartar still Heathenish and to mislike as he doeth of the Christian profession FINIS Strabo in his 7. booke of â—â—ogr Gen. 10. Ioseph l. 1. cap. 14. The borders of Russia The shires of Russia The Prouinces or countries got by conquest The bredth and length of the countrie The cold of Russia The chief riuers of Russia The fruites and graine of Russia The chiefe commodities of the countrie 1. Furres 2. Waxe 3. Hony 4. Tallow 5. Hide 6. Trane oyle The manner of hunting the Seal fish Ickary 9 8. Hempe and flaxe 9. Salt 10. Tarre 11. Ribazuba 12. Slude 13. Saltpeeâ—â—r brimstone 4. Iron The straÌ„ge â—â—â—sts fish foâ—le c. that breed in Russia Mosko Nouograde Iaruslaue The manner of Russe buylding The house Beala not naturall Russe The aduoncement of the house of Beala The Russe gouernment tyrannicall The States of Parliament The order of the summons or assembling Their discourse at ParliameÌ„t The Vdelney Knazey chiefe of the Nobilitie The factioÌ„ of Oppressini Zempskey deuised by the Emperour Names of the greatest houses of the Russe Nobilitie The 2. degree of Nobilitie The 3. sort of Nobilitie The second degree of persons The third degree The foure Chetfirds The Commission of the Dukes or Presidents of Shires The Gouernment of Mosko An harde matter to alter the State of Russia The nuÌ„ber and names of the CouÌ„sellours of State Foure Secretaries The offices of receipt The Steward receiuer of the crowne laÌ„d rentes The office of Chetfird Tagla and Podat The office of Bulcha Prechod or great income The Emperours custome The whole receipt of the Bulsha Prechod or great income Rents out of the iudicial offices The Emperours treasure house within his castle of Mosko The summe of the Emperours reÌ„t money A strange practise to get money The seruile and miserable estate of the Russe people The tyranny and oppression ouer their very minds and wits The ielousie of the Emperour concerning his state Courts of ciuill iustice three The Dukes and Diacks Court The high Court of Mosko Their maÌ„ner of procedeing in Ciuill matters Ending of controuersies by kissing the Crosse Iudgement by lotte The forme of Russe bils or bonds Proceeding in criminall matters Souldiers by birth inheritaÌ„ce Degrees of horsemen 1. Praetoriaenior such as attend the Emperours person 15000. Two other troupes to the number of 65000. Horsemen in coÌ„tinuall pay 80000. Footmen in continuall pay 12000. Strangers mercenaries in pay 4300. The chiefe captaines or leaders 1. The Voiauod or Generall 2. Liefetenant generall 3. Marshals of the field foure Foure marshals deputies 8. Fiue Cotonels vnder Captaines Sixe Masters of the Artillerie The waking Captaine Their order for mustering The horsemans furniture The footemans furniture Prouision of victuall Horsemens drummes The horsemans manner of charging The footemans charge The walking Castle Reward for valure Lituania Narue Permia and Pechora Meanes of holding his chiefe townes Meanes of holding the countries of Pechora Permia and Siberia The Polonians called Laches by the Russe The Chrim Tartar The firing of Mosko by the Chrim Tartar in the yeare 1571. Homage done by the Russe to the Chrim Tartar The manner of the Tartars fight and armour The subtiltie of the Tartar The Tartar religion The Tartar Nobilitie The Tartar dyet The Tartars dwelling The Nagay Tartar the cruellest The Chircasce the ciuilest Tartar The Cheremissen Tartar The Mordwite Tartar the most barbarous of the rest The Permans The Samoites The Samoites religion Slata Baba or the golden Hag. The Samoits habite and behauiour The Lappes The church officers The Patriarch The translation of the Patriarchicall sea from Constantinople or Sio to Mosko The Patriarchship of Constantinople translated to Mosko The Patriarches iurisdiction The Metropolites Archbishops Bishops Ecclesiasticall iurisdiction Their Gentlemen coÌ„missaries The church reuenues The habite of their clergy men The electioÌ„ of Bishops The learning exercise of the Russe Clergie Priests The Russe Priests can marry but once The priests maintenance The priests attire Friers Their maner of shiring Friers The Friers learning Nunneries Eremites Basileo the Eremite Nicôla the Eremite Their morning Seruice Their Euening seruice The manner of the Russe baptisme Rebaptizing The administring of the Lords supper The Russe errours 1. Their disallowing of certeine parts of the Canonicall scriptures 2. Traditions equall to the holy Scripture 3. The Church to haue soueraigne authoritie in interpreting the Scriptures 4. The holy Ghost to proceed froÌ„ the Father onely 5. Christ not sole mediator of intercessioÌ„ 6. Iustification by workes 7. Saluation vncerteine 8. Auricular confession 9. Three SacrameÌ„ts 10. All daÌ„ned that die without baptisme 11. Anabaptisme 12. Difference of meates 13. Marriage for some persons vnlawfull The manner of indowment for wiues Ceremonies in mariages The signe of the crosse Holywater Hallowing of riuers Drinking of holy water Brewing with holy water Palmsunday Fasts Vigils Burials Moneths mindes His priuate prayer The Emperour giueth presence euery morning The Emperours seruice at his Table Maister of the Horse The L. Steward The L. Tresurer Controller Chamberlaine Tasters HarbeÌ„gers Gentlemen of the chaÌ„ber The Gard. Grooms Constitution of their bodies Their diet The Noble mans attire The Gentlemans apparell The Noble womans attire The Mousicks or coÌ„mon mans attire Their wits and capacities Crueltie of the Russe people Intemperancie