THE HISTORY of RUSSIA OR The Goverment of the Emperoâ—â— OF MUSCOVIA with the manners fashions of the People of that Countrey by G. Fletcher sometime fellow of Kings Colledâ—â— in Cambridge and employed in the Embassie thitheâ— W. M. fecit 1643 The Contents of the severall Chapters Chap. 1 THe description of the Countrey of Russia with the breadth length and names of the Shires Fol. 1 Chap. 2 Of the Soyl and Climate Fol. 6 Chap. 3 The native commodities of the Countrey Fol. 14 Chap. 4 The chief Cities of Russia Fol. 28 Chap. 5 The house or stock of the Russe Emperour Fol. 34 Chap. 6 The manner of inauguratioÌ„ of the Russe Emperours Fol. 40 Chap. 7 The manner of their Government Fol. 47 Chap. 8 The manner of holding their Parliaments Fol. 52 Chap. 9 The Russe Nobilitie and by what means it is kept in an under proportion agreeable to that state Fol. 57 Chap. 10 The government of their Provinces or Shires Fol. 70 Chap. 11 The Emperours Privie Councel Fol. 82 Chap. 12 The Emperours customes and other Revenues with the Sophismes practised for the encrease of them Fol. 86 Chap. 13 The Russe Commonaltie and their condition Fol. 107 Chap. 14 Their publick justice and manner of proceeding therein Fol. 117 Chap. 15 The Emperours forces for his Warres with the Officers and their salaries Fol. 127 Chap. 16 Their manner of mustering armour and provision of victuall Fol. 137 Chap. 17 Their order in marching charging and their martiall discipline Fol. 141 Chap. 18 Their Colonies and policie in maintaining their purchases by conquest Fol. 146 Chap. 19 Their borderers with whom they have most to do in warre and peace Fol. 155 Chap. 20 Of the Permians Samoites and Lappes Fol. 180 Chap. 21 Their Ecclesiasticall state with their Church Offices Fol. 166 Chap. 22 Their Liturgie or form of Church-service with their manner of administring the Sacraments Fol. 218 Chap. â—3 The doctrine of the Russe Church Fol. 231 Chap. â—4 Their manner of solemnizing Marriages Fol. 240 Chap. â—5 The other Ceremonies of the Russe Church Fol. 246 Chap. 26 The Emperours domestick behaviour Fol. 256 Chap. 27 The Emperours houshold with the offices of his house Fol. 265 Chap. 28 The private behaviour and manner of the Russe people Fol. 268 CHAP. 1. The description of the Countrey of Russia with the breadth length and names of the Shires THe countrey of Russia was sometimes called Sarmatia It changed the name as some do suppose for â—hat it was parted into divers small and yet absolute governments not depending nor being subject the one â—o the other For Russe in that tongue doth signifie as much as to part or divide The Russe reporteth that foure â—â—ethren Truber Rurico Sinees and â—arivus divided among them the North parts of the countrey Likewise that the South parts were posessed by foure other Kio Scieâ—o â—horanus and their sister Libeda each â—alling his territorie after his own â—ame Of this partition it was calâ—d Russia about the yeare from Christ 860. As for the conjecture which I find in some Cosmographers that the Russe nation borrowed the name of the people called Râ—xellani 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 rivers of Tanais and Boristhenes as Strabo reporteh quite another way from the countrey of Russia When it bare the name of Sarmatia it was divided into two chief parts the White and the Black The White Sarmatia was all that part that lieth towards the North and on the side of Liefland as the Provinces now called Duyna Vagha Ustic Vologda Cargapolia Novogradia c. whereof Novograd velica was the Metropolis or chief citie Black Sarmatia was all that countrey that lieth Southward towards the Euxin or Black Sea as the dukedome of Volodemer of Mosko Rezan c. Some have thought that the name of Sarmatia was first taken from one Sarmates whom Moses and Josephus call Asarmathes sonne to Joktan and nephew to Heber of the posteritie of Sem. But this seemeth to be nothing but a conjecture taken out of the likenesse of the name Asarmathes For the dwelling of all Joktans posteritie is described by Moses to have been betwixt Mescha or Masius an hill of the Amonites and Sephace near to the river Euphrates Which maketh it very unlikely that Asarmathes should plant any colonies so farre off in the North Northwest countries It is bounded Northward by the Lappes and the North Ocean On the Southside by the Tartars called Chrims Eastward they have the Nagaian Tartar that possesseth all the countrey on the Eastside of Volgha towards the Caspian sea On the West and Southwest border lie Lituania Livonia and Polonia The whole countrey being now reduced under the government of one containeth these chief Provinces or Shires Volodemer which beareth the first place in the Emperours style because their house came of the Dukes of that countrey Mosko Nisnovogrod Plesko Smolensko Novogrod velica or Novogrod of the low countrey Rostove Yaruslave Bealozera Bezan Duyna Cargapolia Meschora Vagha Ustugâ— Ghaletsa These are the naturall shires pertaining to Russia but farre greater and larger then the shires of England though not so well peopled The other countreys or provinces which the Russe Emperours â—…ve gotten perforce added of late to â—…ir other dominion are these which â—…low Twerra Youghoria Permia 〈…〉 Boulghoria Chernigo Oudoâ—… Oâ—doria Condora with a great 〈◊〉 of Siberia where the people 〈…〉 they be not naturall Russes â—…ey the Emperour of Russia and â—…uled by the laws of his countrey 〈◊〉 customes and taxes as his â—…le do Besides these he hath undâ—…m the kingdomes of Cazan and â—…acan gotten by conquest not lonâ—… As for all his possession in 〈…〉 to the number of 30. greatâ—…ns and more with Narve and 〈…〉 in Livonia they are quite gone being surprised of late years by the kings of Poland and Sweden These Shires and Provinces are reduced all into foure Jurisdictions which they call Chetfyrds that is Tetrarchies or Fourth parts whereof we are to speak in the title or chapter concerning the Provinces and their manner of government The whole countrey is of great length and breadth From the North to the South if you measure from Cola to Astracan which bendeth somewhat Eastward it reacheth in length about 4260 verst or miles Not withstanding the Emperour of Russia haâ—… more territorie Northward farre beyond Cola unto the river of Tromschua that runneth a 1000. verst wel nigh beyond Pechinga near to ward house but not intire nor clearly limited by reason of the kings of Sweden and Denmark that have divers towns there as well as the Russe plotted together the one with the other every one of them claiming the whole of those North parts as his own right The breadth if you go from that part
of his territorie that lieth farthest Westward on the Narve side to the parts of Siberia eastward where the Emperour hath his garrisons is 4400. verst or thereabouts A verst by their reckoning is a 1000 paces yet lesse by one quarter then an English mile If the whole dominion of the Russe Emperour were all habitable and peopled in all places as it is in some he would either hardly hold it all within one regiment or be overmightie for all his neighbour Princes CHAP. II. of the Soil and Climate THe soil of the countrey for the most part is of a slight sandie mould yet very much different one place from another for the yield of such things as grow out of the earth The countrey Northwards towards the parts of S. Nicholas and Cola and Northeast towards Siberia is all very barren and full of desert woods by reason of the climate and extremitie of the cold in winter-time So likewise along the river Volgha betwixt the countreys of Cazan and Astracan where notwithstanding the soil is very fruitfull it is all unhabited saving that upon the river Volgha on the westside the Emperour hath some few castles with garisons in them This happeneth by means of the Chrim Tartar that will neither himself plant towns to dwell there living a wild and vagrant life nor suffer the Russe that is farre off with the strength of his countrey to people those parts From Vologda which lieth almost 1700. verst from the port of S. Nicholas down towards Mosko and so towards the south part that bordereth upon the Chrim which containeth the like space of 1700. verst or thereabouts is a very fruitfull and pleasant countrey yielding pasture and corn with woods and waters in very great plentie The like is betwixt Rezan that lieth Southeast from Mosko to Novograd and Vobsko that reacheth furthest towards the Northwest So betwixt Mosko and Smolensko that lieth Southwest towards Lituania is a very fruitfull and pleasant soil The whole countrey differeth ver◠〈…〉 from it self by reason of thâ— yeare so that a man would-marvel to see the great alteration and difference betwixt the winter and the summer Rusâ—…a The whole countrey in the winter lieth under snow which falleth continually and is sometime of a yard or two thick but greater towards the North. The rivers and other waters are frozen up a yard or more thick how swift or broad soever they be And this continueth commonly five moneths viz. from the beginning of November till towards the end of March what time the snow beginneth to melt So that it would breed a frost in a man to look abroad at that time and see the winter face of that countrey The sharpnesse of the aire you may judge of by this for that water dropped down or cast up into the aire congealeth into ice before it come to the ground In the extremitie of winter if you hold a pewter dish or pot in your hand or any other metall except in some chamber where their warm stoves be your fingers will frieze fast unto it and draw off the skinne at he parting When you passe out of a â—arm room into a cold you shall senâ—ibly feel your breath to wax stark and even stifling with the coldâ— as you draw it in and out Divers not onely that travel abroad but in the very markets and streets of their towns are mortally pinched and killed withall so that you shall see many drop down in the streets many travellers brought into the towns sitting dead and stiff in their fleds Divers lose their noses the tips of their ears and the balls of their cheeks their toes feet c. Many times when the Winter is very hard and extreme the bears and wolves issue by troups out of the woods driven by hunger and enter the villages tearing and ravening all they can find so that the inhabitants are fain to flee for safeguard of their lives And yet in the Summer-time you shall see such a new hue and face of a countrey the woods for the most part which are all of firre and birch so fresh and so sweet the pastures and medows so green and well grown and that upon the sudden such varietie of flowers such noise of birds specially of Nightingales that seem to be more loud and of a more variable note then in other countries that a man shall not lightly travell in a more pleasant countrie And this fresh and speedy growth of the spring there seemeth to proceed from the benefit of the snow which all the winter-time being spread over the whole countrey as a white robe and keeping it warm from the rigour of the frost in the spring time when the sunne waxeth warm and dissolveth it into water doth so throughly drench and soke the ground that is somewhat of a slight and sandie mould and then shineth so hotly upon it again that it draweth the herbs and plants forth in great plenty and varietie in a very short time As the winter exceedeth in cold so the summer inclineth to overmuch heat specially in the moneths of June July and August being much warmer then the summer-aire in England The countrie throughout is very well watered with springs rivers and ozeraes or lakes Wherein the providence of God is to be noted for that much of the countrey being so farre inland as that some part lieth a 1000. miles and more every way from any sea yet it is served with fair rivers and that in very great number that emptying themselves one into another run all into the sea Their lakes are many and large some of 60. 80. 100. and 200. miles long with breadth proportionate The cheif rivers are these 1. Volgha that hath his head or spring at the root of an Aldertree about 200. verst above Yaruslave and groweth so big by the encrease of other rivers by that time it cometh thither that it is broad an English mile and more and so runneth into the Caspian sea about 2800. verst or miles of length The next is Boristhenes now called Neper that divideth the countrey from Lituania and falleth into the Euxin sea The third Tanais or Don the ancient bounder betwixt Europe and Asia that taketh his head out of Rezan Ozera and so running through the countrey of the Chrim Tartar falleth into the great sea lake or mear called Maeotis by the Citie of Azou By this river as the Russe reporteth you may passe from their citie Mosko to Constantinople and so into all those parts of the world by water drawing your boat as their manner is over a little Isthmus or narrow slip of land a few versts overthwart Which was proved not long since by an Ambassadour sent to Constantinople who passed the river of Moskua and so into another called Ocka whence he drew his boat over into Tanais and thence passed the whole way by water The fourth is called Duyna many hundred miles long that falleth Northward into the Bay of Saint Nicholas and hath great
is ever noted in the practice of his warres and namely at the siege of Vobsko about eight years since where he repulsed the Polonian king Stepan Batore with his whole armie of 100000. men and forced him in the end to give over his siege with the losse of many of his best Captains and souldiers Put in a set field the Russe is noted to have ever the worse of the Polonian and Sweden If any behave himself more valianâ—ly then the rest or do any speciall piece of service the Emperour sendeth him a piece of gold stamped with the Image of Saint George on horseback Which they hang on their sleeves and set in their caps And this is accounted the greatest honour they can receive for any service they do CHAP. XVIII Of their Colonies and maintaining of their conquests or purchases by force THe Russe Emperours of late years have very much enlarged their dominions and territories Their first conquest after the Dukedome of Mosko for before that time they were but Dukes of Volodomer as before was said was the Citie and Dukedome of Novograd on the West and Northwest side which was no small enlargement of their dominion and strengthning to them for the winning of the rest This was done by Juan great grandfather to Theodore now Emperour about the year 1480. The same began likewise to encroch upon the countreys of Lituania and Livonia but the conquest onely intended and attempted by him upon some part of those countreys was pursued and performed by his sonne Basileus who first wonne the Citie and Dukedome of Plesko afterwards the Citie and Dukedome of Smolensko and many other fair towns with a large territorie belonging unto them about the year 1514. These victories against the Lettoes or Lituanians in the time of Alexander their Duke he atchieved rather by advantage of civil dissentions and treasons among themselves then by any great policie or force of his own But all this was lost again by his sonne Juan Vasilowich about eight or nine years past upon composition with the Polonian king Stepan Batore whereunto he was forced by the advantages which the Pole had then of him by reason of the foil he had given him before and the disquietnesse of his own state at home Onely the Russe Emperour at this time hath left him on that side his countrey the cities of Smolensko Vitobsko Cheringo and Beala gorod in Lituania In Livonia not a town nor one foot of ground When Basileus first conquered those countreys he suffered the natives to keep their possessions and to inhabite all their towns onely paying him a tribute under the government of his Russe Captains But by their conspiracies and attempts not long after he was taught to deal more surely with them And so coming upon them the second time he killed and carried away with him three parts of foure which he gave or sold to the Tartars that served him in those warres and in stead of them placed there his Russes so many as might overmatch the rest with certain garrisons of strength besides Wherein notwithstanding this oversight was committed for that taking away with him the upland or countrey people that should have tilled the ground and might easily have been kept in order without any danger by other good policies he was driven afterwards many years together to victuall the countrey specially the great towns out of his own countrey of Russia the soil lying there in the mean while waste and untilled The like fell out at the port of Narue in Liefland where his sonne Juan Vasilowich devised to build a town and a castle on the other side the river called Juan gorod to keep the town and countrey in subjection The Castle he caused to be so built and fortified that it was thought to be invincible And when it was finished for reward to the Architect that was a Polonian he put out both his eyes to make him unable to build the like again But having left the natives all within their own countrey without abating their number or strength the town and castle not long after was betrayed and surrendred again to the king of Sweden On the South-east-side they have got the kingdomes of Cazan and Astracan These were wonne from the Tartar by the late Emperour Juan Vasilowich father to the Emperour that now is the one about 35. the other about 33. years ago Northward out of the countrey of Siberia he hath laid unto his realm a great breadth and length of ground from wichida to the river of Obba about a 1000. miles space so that he is bold to write himself now The great Commander of Siberia The countreys likewise of Permia and Pechora are a divers people and language from the Russe overcome not long since and that rather by threatning and shaking of the sword then by any actuall sorce as being a weak and naked people without means to resist That which the Russe hath in his present possession he keepeth on this sort In his foure cheif border towns of Vobsko Smolensko Astâ—acan and Cazan he hath certain of his Counsell not of the greatest Nobilitie but of greatest trust which have more authoritie within their precincts for the countenancing and strengthning of their government there then the other Dukes that are set to govern in other places as was noted before in the manner of ordering their Provinces These he changeth sometime every year sometime every second or third year but exceedeth not that time except upon very speciall trust and good liking of the partie and his service lest by enlarging of their time they might grow into some familiaritie with the enemie as some have done being so farre out of sight The towns besides are very strongly fenced with trenches castles and store of munition and have garrisons within them to the number of two or three thousand apiece They are stored with victuall if any siege should come upon them for the space of two or three years beforehand The foure castles of Smolensko Vobsko Cazan and Astracan he hath made very strong to bear out any siege so that it is thought that those towns are impregnable As for the countreys of Pechora and Permia and that part of Siberia which he hath now under him they are kept by as easie means as they were first got viz. rather by shewing then by using of arms First he hath stored the Countrey with as many Russes as there are natives and hath there some few souldiers in garrison enough to â—eep them under Secondly his Officers and Magistrates there are of his own Russe people and he changeth them very often viz. every year twise or thrise notwithstanding there be no great fear of any innovation Thirdly he divideth them into many small governments like a staff broke in many small pieces so that they have no strength being severed which was but little neither when they were all in one Fourthly he provideth that the people of the Countrey have neither armour
life and death and that by evidence upon information though they never saw nor heard the partie who is kept still in prison where the fact was committed and never sent up to the place where he is tried If they find the partie guiltie they give sentence of death according to the qualitie of the fact which is sent down by the Lord of the Chetfird to the Duke and Diack to be put in executien The prisoner is carried to the place of execution with his hands bound and a wax candle burning held betwixt his fingers Their capitall punishments are hanging heading knocking on the head drowning putting under the ice setting on a stake and such like But for the most part the prisoners that are condemned in summer are kept for the winter to be knockt in the head and put under the ice This is to be understood of common persons For theft and murder if they be committed upon a poore Mousick by one of Nobilitie are not lightly punished nor yet is he called to any account for it Their reason is because they are accounted their Kolophey or bondslaves If by some Sinaboiarskey or Gentleman-souldier a murder or theft be committed peradventure he shall be imprisoned at the Emperours pleasure If the manner of the fact be very notorious he is whipped perchance and this is commonly all the punishment that is inflicted upon them If a man kill his own servant little or nothing is said unto him for the same reason because he is accounted to be his Kolophey or bondslave and so to have right over his very head The most is some small mulct to the Emperour if the partie be rich and so the quarrell is made rather against the purse then against the injustice They have no written law save onely a small book that containeth the time and manner of their sitting order in proceeding and such other judiciall forms and circumstances but nothing to direct them to give sentence upon right or wrong Their onely law 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 have them for their law and direction of justice against whose injustice and extreme oppression they had need to be armed with many good and strong laws CHAP. XV. Their forces for the warres with the chief officers and their salaries THe souldiers of Russia are called Sinaboiarskey or the sonnes of Gentlemen because they are all of that degree by virtue of their military profession For every souldier in Russia is a gentleman and none are gentlemen but onely the souldiers that take it by descent from their ancestours so that the sonne of a gentleman which is born a souldier is ever a gentleman and a souldier withall and professeth nothing else but militarie matters When they are of years able to bear arms they come to the office of Roserade or great Constable and there present themselves who entreth their names and allotteth them certain lands to maintain their charges for the most part the same that their fathers enjoyed For the lands assigned to maintain the army are ever certain annexed to this office without improving or detracting one foot But that if the Emperour have sufficient in wages the rooms being full so farre as the land doth extend already they are many times deferred and have nothing allowed them except some one portion of the land be divided into two Which is a cause of great disorder within that countrey when a souldier that hath many children shall have sometimes but one entertained in the Emperours pay So that the rest having nothing are forced to live by unjust and wicked shifts that tend to the hurt and oppression of the Mousick or common sort of people This inconvenience groweth by maintaining his forces in a continuall succession The whole number of his souldiers in continuall pay is this First he hath of his Dworaney that is Pensioners or Guard of his person to the number of 15000. horsemen with their captains and other officers that are alwayes in a readinesse Of these 15000. horsemen there are three sorts or degrees which differ as well 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 have some an hundred some fourescore rubbels a year and none under 70. The second sort are called Seredney Dworaney or the middle rank of Pensioners These have sixtie or fiftie rubbels by the year none under fourtie The third and lowest sort are the Dyta Boiarskey that is the low Pensioners Their salarie is thirtie rubbels a year for him that hath most some have but five and twentie some twentie none under twelve Whereof the half part is paid them at the Mosko the other half in the field by the Generall when they have any warres and are employed in service When they receive their whole pay it amounteth to 55000. rubbels by the year And this is their wages besides lands allotted to every one of them both to the greater and the lesse according to their degrees Whereof he that hath least hath to yield him twen tie rubbels or marks by the year Besides these 15000. horsemen that are of better choice as being the Emperours own guard when himself goeth to the warres not unlike the Romane souldiers called Praetoriam are 110 men of speciall account for their Nobilitie and trust which are chosen by the Emperour and have their names registred that find among them for the Emperours ware to the number of 65000. horsemen with all necessaries meet for the wartes after the Russe manner To this end they have yearly allowance made by the Emperour for themselves and their companies to the summe of 40000. rubbels And these 65000. are to repair to the field every year on the borders towards the Chrim Tartar except they be appointed for some other service whether there be warres-with the Tartars or not This might seem peradventure somewhat dangerous for some state to have so great forces under the command of Noblemen to assemble every year to one certain place But the matter is so used as that no danger can grow to the Emperour or his state by this means 1. Because these Noblemen are many to wit an 110 in all and changed by the Emperour so oft as he thinketh good 2. Because they have their livings of the Emperour being otherwise but of very small revenue and receive this yearly pay of 40000. rubbels when it is presently to be paid forth again to the souldiers that are under them 3. Because for the most part they are about the Emperours person being of his Councel either speciall or at large 4. They are rather as paymasters then Captains to their companies themselves not going forth ordinarily to the warres save when some of them are appointed by speciall order from the Emperour himself So the whole number of
nor money being taxed and pilled so often as he thinketh good without any means to shake off that yoke or to relieve themselves In Siberia where he goeth on in pursuing his conquest he hath divers castles and garrisons to the number of six thousand souldiers of Russes and Polonians and sendeth many new supplies thither to plant and to inhabite as he winneth ground At this time besides he hath gotten the kings brother of Siberia allured by certain of his Captâ—â—ns to leave his own countrey by offers of great entertainment and pleasanter life with the Russe Emperour then he had in Siberia He was brought in this last year and is now with the Emperour at Mosko well entertained This may be said of the Russe practise wheresoever he ruleth either by right of inheritance or by conquest First he bereaveth the countrey of armour and other means of defence which he permitteth to none but to his Boiarskeis onely Secondly he robbeth them continually of their money and dommodities and leaveth them hare with nothing but their bodies and lives within certain years compasse Thirdly he renteth and divideth his territories into many small pieces by severall governments so that none hath much under him to make any strength though he had other oportunities Fourthly he governeth his countreys by men of small reputation and no power of themselves and strangers in those places where their government lieth Fiftly he changeth his governours once a year ordinarily that there grow no great liking nor intirenesse betwixt the people and them nor acquaintance with the enemy if they lie towards the borders Sixthly he appointeth in one and the same place adversary governours the one to be as controller of the other as the Dukes and Diacks where by means of their envies and emulations there is lesse hurt to be feared by their agreement and himself is better informed what is done amisse Seventhly he sendeth many times into every Province secret messengers of speciall trust about him as intelligencers to pâ—iâ— and hearken out what is doing and what is amisse there And this is ordinary though it be sudden and unknown what time they will come CHAP. XIX Of the Tartars and other borderers to the Countrey of Russia with whom they have most to do in warre and peace THeir neighbours with whom they have greatest dealings and intercourse both in peace and warre are first the Tartar Secondly the Polonian whom the Russe calleth Laches noting the first authour or founder of the Nation who was called Laches or Leches where unto is added Po which signifieth People and so is made Polaches that is the People or posteritie of Laches which the Latines after their manner of writing call Polanos The third are the Swedens The Polonians and Swedens are herter known to these parts of Europe then are the Tartars that are further off from us as being of Asia and divided into many tribes different both in name and government one from another The greatest and mightiest of them is the Chrim Tartar whom some call the Great Cham that lieth South and Southeastward from Russia and doth most annoy the Countrey by often invasions commonly once every year sometimes entring very farre within the inland parts In the year 1571. he came as farre as the citie of Mosko with an armie of 200000. men without any battel or resistance at all for that the Russe Emperour then Juan Vasilowich leading forth his armie to encounter with him marched a wrong way but as it was thought of very purpose as not daring to adventure the field by reason that he doubted his Nobilitie and chief Captains of a meaning to betray him to the Tartar The citie he took not but fired the Suburbs which by reason of the buildings which is all of wood without any stone brick or lime save certain outrooms kindled so quickly and went on with such rage as that it consumed the greatest part of the citie almost within the space of foure houres being of 30. miles or more of compasse Then might you have seen a lamentable spectacle besides the huge and mighty flame of the citie all on light fire the people burning in their houses and streets but most of all of such as laboured to passe out of the gates furthest from the enemie where meeting together in a mighty throng and so pressing every man to prevent another wedged themselves so fast within the gate and streets near unto it as that three ranks walked one upon the others head the uppermost treading down those that were lower so that there perished at that time as was said by the fire and the presse the number of 800000. people or more The Chrim thus having fired the Citie and fed his eyes with the sight of it all on a light flame returned with his armie and sent to the Russe Emperour a knife as was said to stick himself withall upbraiding thiâ— lesse and his desperate case as not daring either to meet his enemie in the field nor to trust his friends or subjects at home The prnicipall cause of this continuall quarrel betwixt the Russe and the Chrim is for the right of certain border parts claimed by the Tartar but possessed by the Russe The Tartar alledgeth that besides Astracan Cazan that are the ancient possession of the East Tartar the whole countrey from his bounds North and Westward so farre as the citie of Mosko and Mosko it self pertaineth to his right Which seemeth to have been true by the report of the Russes themselves that tell of a certain homage that was done by the Russe Emperour every year to the Great Chrim or Cham the Russe Emperour standing on foot and feeding the Chrims horse himself sitting on his back with oats out of his own cap in stead of a bowl or manger and that within the castle of Mosko And this homage they say was done till the time of Basileus grandfather to this man Who surprising the Chrim Emperour by a stratagem done by one of his Nobilitie called Juan Demetrowich Belschey was content with this ransome viz. with the changing of this homage into a tribute of furres which afterwards also was denied to be paied by this Emperours father Hereupon they continue the quarrel the Russe defending his countrey and that which he hath wonne the Chrim Tartar invading him once or twice every year sometime about Whitsuntide but oftner in Harvest What time if the great Cham or Chrim come in his own person he bringeth with him a great armie of 100000. or 200000. men Otherwise they make short and sudden roads into the countrey with lesser numbers funning about the list of the border as wild geese flie invading and retiring where they see advantage Their common practice being very populous is to make divers armies and so drawing the Russe to one or two places of the frontiers to invade at some other place that is left without defence Their manner of fight or ordering of their forces is
beginning from the nation of the Chrim Tartars Of which opinion is Laonicus Chalcocondylas the Greek Historiographer in his first book of his Turkish storie Wherein he followeth divers very probable conjectures The first taken from the very name it self for that the word Turk signifieth a shepherd or one that followeth a vagrant and wild kind of life By which name these Scythian Tartars have ever been noted being called by the Greeks 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or the Scythian shepherds His second reason because the Turks in his time that dwelt in Asia the lesse to wit in Lydia Coria Phrygia and Cappadocia spake the very same language that these Tartars did that dwelt betwixt the river Tanais or Don and the countrey of Sarmatia which as is well known are these Tartars called Chrims At this time also the whole nation of the Turks differ not much in their common speech from the Tartar language Thirdly because the Turk and the Chrim Tartar agree so well together as well in religion as in matter of traffick never invading or injuring one another save that the Turk since Laonicus his time hath encroched upon some towns upon the Euxin sea that before pertained to the Chrim Tartar Fourthly because Ortogules sonne to Oguzalpes and father to Otoman the first of name of the Turkish nation made his first rodes out of those parts of Asia upon the next borderers till he came towards the countreys about the hill Taurus where he overcame the Greeks that inhabited there and so enlarged the name and territorie of the Turkish nation till he came to Eubea and Attica and other parts of Greece This is the opinion of Laonicus who lived among the Turks in the time of Amurat the sixth Turkish Emperour about the year 1400. when the memorie of their originall was more fresh and therefore the likelier he was to hit the truth There are divers other Tartars that border upon Russia as the Nagaies the Cheremissens the Mordwites the Chircasses and the Sbalcans which all differ in name more then in regiment or other condition from the Chrim Tartar except the Chircasses that border Southwest towards Lituania and are farre more civil then the rest of the Tartars of a comely person and of a stately behaviour as applying themselves to the fashion of the Polonian Some of them have subjected themselves to the kings of Poland and professe Christianitie The Nagay lieth Eastward and is reckoned for the best man of warre among all the Tartars but very savage and cruel above all the rest The Cheremissen Tartar that lieth betwixt the Russe and the Nagay are of two sorts the Lugavoy that is of the valley and the Nagornay or of the hillie countrey These have much troubled the Emperours of Russia And therefore they are content now to buy peace of them under pretence of giving a yearly pension of Russe commodities to their Morseis or Divoymorseis that are chief of their tribes For which also they are bound to serve them in their warres under certain conditions They are said to be just and true in their dealings and for that cause they hate the Russe people whom they account to be double and false in all their dealing And therefore the common sort are very unwilling to keep agreement with them but that they are kept in by their Morseis or Dukes for their pensions sake The most rude and barbarous is counted the Mordwite Tartar that hath many self-fashions and strange kinds of behaviour differing from the rest For his religion though he acknowledge one god yet his manner is to worship for god that living thing that he first meeteth in the morning and to swear by it all that whole day whether it be horse dog cat or whatsoever else it be When his friend dieth he killeth his best horse and having flayed off the skin he carrieth it on high upon a long pole before the corps to the place of buriall This he doth as the Russe saith that his friend may have a good horse to carrie him to heaven but it is likelier to declare his love towards his dead friend in that he will have to die with him the best thing that he hath Next to the kingdome of Astracan that is the furthest part South-eastward of the Russe dominion lieth the Shalcan and the countrey of Media whither the Russe merchants trade for raw silks syndon saphion skins and other commodities The chief towns of Media where the Russe tradeth are Derbent built by Alexander the great as the inhabitants say and Zamachie where the staple is kept for raw silks Their manner is in the Spring-time to revive the silk-worms that lie dead all the Winter by laying them in the warm sunne and to hasten their quickning that they may sooner go to work to put them into bags and so to hang them under their childrens arms As for the worm called Chrinisin as we call it chrymson that maketh coloured silk it is bred not in Media but in Assyria This trade to Derbent Samachie for raw silks and other commodities of that countrey as also into Persiae and Bougharia down the riuer Volgha and through the Caspian sea is permitted as well to the English as to the Russe merchants by the Emperours last grant at my being there Which he accounteth for a very speciall favour and might prove indeed very beneficiall to our English merchants if the trade were well and orderly used The whole nation of the Tartars are utterly void of all learning and without written Law Yet certain rules they have which they hold by tradition common to all the Hoords for the practice of their life Which are of this sort 1. To obey their Emperour and other Magistrates whatsoever they command about the publick service 2. Except for the publick behoof every man to be free and out of controllment 3. No private man to possesse any lands but the whole countrey to be as a common 4. To neglect all daintinesse and varietie of meats and to content themselves with that which cometh next to hand for more hardnesse and readinesse in the executing of their affairs 5. To wear any base attire and to patch their clothes whether there be any need or not that when there 〈◊〉 need it be no shame to wear a patcht coat 6. To take or steal from any stranger whatsoever they can get as being enemies to all men save to such as will subject themselves to them 7. Towards their own hoord and nation to be true in word and in deed 8. To suffer no stranger to come within the Realm If any do the same to be bondslave to him that first taketh him except such merchants and other as have the Tartar Bull or pasport about them CHAP. XX. Of the Permians Samoites and Lappes THe Permians and Samoites that lie from Russia North and Northeast are thought likewise to have taken their beginning from the Tartar kind And it may partly be ghessed by the fashion of
have the same full authoritie and jurisdiction that pertained before to the Patriarch of Constantinople or Sin And that it might be done with more order and solemnitie the 25. of Januarie 1588. the Greek Patriarch accompanied with the Russe Clergie went to the great Church of Precheste or our Ladie within the Emperours castle having first wandred through the whole citie in manner of a procession and blessing the people with his two fingers where he made an Oration and delivered his resignation in an instrument of writing and so layed down his Patriarchicall staff which was presently received by the Metropolite of Mosko and divers other ceremonies used about the inauguration of this new Patriarch The day was holden very solemn by the people of the citie who were commanded to forbear their works and to attend this solemnitie The great Patriarch that day was honoured with rich presents sent him from the Emperour and Empresse of plate cloth of gold furres c. carried with great pomp through the streets of Mosko and at his departing received many gifts more both from the Emperour Nobilitie and Clergie Thus the Patriarchship of Constantinople or Sio which hath continued since the Councel of Nice is now translated to Mosko or they made believe that they have a Patriarch with the same right and authoritie that the other had Wherein the subtil Greek hath made good advantage of their superstition and is now gone away with a rich bootie into Poland whether their Patriarchship be currant or not The matter is not unlike to make some schisme betwixt the Greek and Russe Church if the Russe hold this Patriarchship that he hath so well payed for and the Greeks elect another withall as likely they will whether this man were banished by the Turk or deprived by order of his own Clergie Which might happen to give advantage to the Pope and to bring over the Russe Church to the Sea of Rome to which end peradventure he devised this stratagem and cast in this matter of schisme among them but that the Emperours of Russia know well enough by the example of other Christian Princes what inconvenience would grow to their state and countrey by subjecting themselves to the Romish Sea To which end the late Emperour Juan Vasilowich was very inquisitive of the Popes authoritie over the Princes of Christendome and sent one of very purpose to Rome to behold the order and behaviour of his Court. With this Patriarch Hieronimo was driven out at the same time by the great Turk one Demetrio Archbishop of Larissa who is now in England and pretendeth the same cause of their banishment by the Turk to wit their not admitting of the Popes new Kalender for the alteration of the year Which how unlikely it is may appear by these circumstances First because there is no such affection nor friendly respect betwixt the Pope and the Turk as that he should banish a subject for not obeying the Popes ordinance specially in a matter of some sequele for the alteration of times within his own countreys Secondly for that he maketh no such scruple in deducting of times and keeping of a just and precise account from the incarnation of Christ whom he doth not acknowledge otherwise then I noted before Thirdly for that the said Patriarch is now at Naples in Italie where it may be ghessed he would not have gone within the Popes reach and so near to his nose if he had been banished for opposing himself against the Popes decree This office of Patriarchship now translated to Mosko beareth a superiour authoritie over all the Churches not onely of Russia and other the Emperours dominions but throughout all the Churches of Christendome that were before under the Patriarch of Constantinople or Sio or at least the Russe Patriarch imagineth himself to have the same authoritie He hath under him as his proper diocesse the Province of Mosko besides other peculiars His court or office is kept at the Mosko Before the creation of this new Patriarch they had but one Metropolite that was called the Metropolite of Mosko Now for more state to their Church and new Patriarch they have two Metropolites the one of Novogrod velica the other of Rostove Their office is to receive of the Patriarch such Ecclesiasticall orders as he thinketh good and to deliver the charge of them over to the Archbishops besides the ordering of their own diocesse Their Archbishops are foure of Smolensko Cazan Vobsko and Vologda The parts of their office is all one with the Metropolites save that they have an under jurisdiction as Suffragans to the Metropolites and superiours to the Bishops The next are the Uladikeis or Bishops that are but six in all of Crutiska of Rezan of Otfer and Torshock of Collomenska of Volodemer of Susdalla These have every one a very large diocesse as dividing the rest of the whole countrey among them The matters pertaining to the Ecclesiasticall jurisdiction of the Metropolites Archbishops and Bishops are the same in a manner that are used by the Clergie in other parts of Christendome For besides their authoritie over the Clergie and ordering such matters as are mere Ecclesiasticall their jurisdiction extendeth to all testamentarie causes matters of marriage and divorcements some pleas of injuries c. To which purpose also they have their Officials or Commissaries which they call Boiaren Uladitskey that are Laymen of the degree of Dukes or Gentlemen that keep their Courts and execute their jurisdiction Which besides their other oppressions over the common people reigne over the Priests as the Dukes and Diacks do over the poore people within their precincts As for the Archbishop or Bishop himself he beareth no sway in deciding those causes that are brought into his Court But if he would moderate any matter he must do it by intreatie with his Gentleman Officiall The reason is because these Boiarskey or Gentlemen Officials are not appointed by the Bishops but by the Emperour himself or his Councel and are to give account of their doings to none but to them If the Bishop can intreat at his admission to have the choice of his own Officiall it is accounted for a speciall great favour But to speak it as it is the Clergie of Russia as well concerning their lands and revenues as their authoritie and jurisdiction are altogether ordered and overruled by the Emperour and his Councel and have so much and no more of both as their pleasure doth permit them They have also their assistants or severall Councels as they call them of certain Priests that are of their diocesse residing within their cathedrall cities to the number of foure and twentie a piece These advise with them about the speciall and necessarie matters belonging to their charge Concerning their rents and revenues to maintain their dignities it is somewhat large The Patriarchs yearly rents out of his lands besides other fees is about 3000. rubbels or marks The Metropolites and Archbishops about 2500. The Bishops
to be no better then Tuâ—ks in comparison of themselves and so they will say because they bow not themselves when they meet with the crosse nor signe themselves with it as the Russe manner is They have holy water in like use and estimation as the Popish Church hath But herein they exceed them in that they do not onely hallow their holy water stocks and tubs full of water but all the rivers of the countrey once every year At Mosko it is done with great pomp and solemnitie the Emperour himself being present at it with all his Nobility marching through the streets towards the river of Moskua in manner of procession in this order as followeth First go two Deacons with banners in their hands the one of Precheste or our Ladie the other of S. Michael fighting with the dragon Then follow after the rest of the Deacons and the priests of Mosko two and two in a ranck with copes on their backs and their idols at their breasts carried with girdles or slings made fast about their necks Next the priests come their Bishops in their pontificalibus then the Friers Monks and Abbots and after the Patriarch in rich attire with a ball or sphere on the top of his mitre to signifie his universalitie over that Church Last cometh the Emperour with all his nobility The whole train is of a mile long or more When they are come to the river a great hole is made in the yce where the market is kept of a rod and a half broad with a stage round about it to keep off the presse Then beginneth the Patriarch to say certain prayers and conjureth the devil to come out of the water and so casting in salt and censing it with frankincenâ—e maketh the whole river to become holy water The morning before all the people of Mosko use to make crosses of chalk over every doore and window of their houses lest the devil being conjured out of the water should flie into their houses When the ceremonies are ended you shall see the black guard of the Emperours house and then the rest of the town with their pails and buckets to take of the hallowed water for drink and other uses You shall also see the women dip in their children over head and ears many men and women leap into it some naked some with their clothes on when some man would think his finger would frieze off if he should but dip it into the water When the men have done they bring their horse to the river to drink of the sanctified water and so make them as holy as a horse Their set day for this solemn action of hallowing their rivers is that we call Twelfthday The like is done by other Bishops in all parts of the Realm Their manner is also to give it to their sick in their greatest extremity thinking that it will either recover them or sanctifie them to God Whereby they kill many through their unreasonable superstition as did the Lord Borris his onely sonne at my being at the Mosko whom he killed as was said by the physicians by pouring into him cold holy water and presenting him naked into the Church to their Saint Basileo in the cold of the Winter in an extremitie of sicknesse They have an image of Christ which they call Neruchi which signifieth as much as Made without hands for so their priests and superstition withall perswadeth them it was This in their processions they carrie about with them on high upon a pole enclosed within a pix made like a lanthorn and do reverence to it as to a great mysterie At every brewing their manner is likewise to bring a dish of their wort to the Priest within the Church which being hallowed by him is poured into the brewing and so giveth it such a virtue as when they drink of it they are seldome sober The like they do with the first fruits of their corn in Harvest They have another ceremonie on Palmsunday of ancient tradition what time the Patriarch rideth through the Mosko the Emperour himself holding his horse bridle and the people crying Hosanna and spreading their upper garments under his horse feet The Emperour hath of the Patriarch for his good service of that day 200. rubbels of standing pension Another pageant they have much like to this the week before the nativitie of Christ when every Bishop in his Cathedrall Church setteth forth a shâ—wâ— of the three children in the Oven where the Angel is made to come flying from the roof of the Church with great admiration of the lookers on and many terrible flashes of fire are made with rosen and gun-powder by the Chaldeans as they call them that run about the town all the twelve dayes disguised in their players coats and make much good sport for the honour of the Bishops pageant At the Mosko the Emperour himself and the Empresse never fail to be at it though it be but the same matter plaid every year without any new invention at all Besides their fasts on Wednesdayes and Fridayes throughout the whole year the one because they say Christ was sold on the Wednesday the other because he suffered on the Friday they have foure great Fasts or Lents every year The first which they call their great Lent is at the same time with ours The second about Midsummer The third in Harvest time The fourth about Hallontide which they keep not of policie but of mere superstition In their great Lent for the first week they eat nothing but bread and salt and drink nothing but water neither meddle with any matter of their vocation but intend their shrieving and fasting onely They have also 3. Vigils or Wakes in their great Lent which they call Stoiania and the last Friday their great Vigil as they call it what time the whole parish must be present in the Church and watch from nine a clock in the Evening till six in the morning all the while standing save when they fall down and knock their heads to their idols which must be an hundred and seventie times just through the whole night About their burialls also they have many superstitious and profane ceremonies as putting within the finger of the corps a letter to Saint Nicholas whom they make their chief mediatour and as it were the porter of heaven gates as the Papists do their Peter In Winter time when all is covered with snow and the ground so hard frozen as that no spade nor pikeax can enter their manner is not to burie their dead but to keep the bodies so many as die all the Winter time in an house in the suburbs or out parts of the town which they call Bohsedom that is Gods house where the dead bodies are piled up together like billets on a woodstack as hard with the frost as a very stone till the Springtide come and resolveth the frost what time every man taketh his dead friend and committeth him to the ground They have