A Brief History of Moscovia and Other Countries, Chapter 4
CHAP. IV.
The Succession of Moscovia Dukes and Emperours taken out of their Chronicles by a Polack with some later Additions.Hac. vol. 1.221.
THE great Dukes of Muscovy derive their Pedegree, though without ground, from Augustus Caesar: whom they fable to have sent certain of his Kindred to be Governours over many remote Provinces; and among them, Prussus over Prussia; him to have had his Seat on the eastern Baltick Shoar by the River Wixel; of whom Rurek, Sinaus, and Truuor descended by the Fourth Generation, were by the Russians living then without Civil Government sent for in the Year 573.573. to bear rule over them; at the perswasion of Gostomislius chief Citizen of Novogrod. They therefore taking with them Olechus their Kinsman divided those Countries among themselves, and each in his Province taught them Civil Government.
Ivorson of Rurek, the rest dying without Issue, became Successour to them all; being left in nonage under the protection of Olechus. He took to wife Olha Daughter to a Citizen of Plesco; of whom he begat Stoslaus; but after that, being slain by his Enemies, Olha his Wife went to Constantinople, and was there baptiz'd Helena.
Stoslaus fought many Battails with his Enemies; but was at length by them slain, who made a Cup of his Scull engrav'n with this Sentence in Gold; Seeking after other Mens he lost his own His Sons were Teropolchus, Olega and Volodimir.
Volodimir having slain the other two, made himself sole Lord of Russia; yet after that fact enclining to Christian Religion, had to wife Anna Sister of Basilius and Constantine Greek Emperours; and with all his People in the Year 988.988. was baptiz'd, and call'd Basilius. Howbeit Zonaras reporteth that before that time Basilius the Greek Emperour sent a Bishop to them; at whose preaching they not being mov'd, but requiring a Miracle, he, after devout Prayers, taking the Book of Gospel into his hands, threw it before them all into the Fire: which remaining there unconsum'd, they were converted.
Volodimir had eleven Sons among whom he divided his Kingdom; Boristus and Glebus for their holy Life register'd Saints; and their Feast kept every year in November with great solemnity. The rest through contention to have the sole Government, ruin'd each other; leaving onelyonly Iaroslaus inheritour of all.
Volodimir Son of Iaroslaus kept his Residence in the ancient City Kiow upon the River Boristenes. And after many conflicts with the Sons of his Uncles; and having subdu'd all was call'd Monomachus. He made war with Constantine the Greek Emperour, wasted Thracia, and returning home with great spoils to prepare new war, was appeas'd by Constantine, who sent Neophytus Bishop of Ephesus, and Eustathius Abbot of Ierusalem, to present him with part of our Saviour's Cross, and other rich Gifts, and to salute him by the name of Czar, or Caesar: with whom he thenceforth enter'd into league and amity.
After him in order of descent Vuszevolodus, George, Demetrius.
Then George, his Son, who in the Year 1237.1237. was slain in battail by the Tartar Prince Bathy, who subdu'd Muscovia and made it tributary. From that time the Tartarians made such Dukes of Russia, as they thought would be most pliable to their ends; of whom they requir'd, as oft as Ambassadours came to him out of Tartary, to go out and meet them; and in his own Court to stand bare-headed, while they sate and deliver'd their Message. At which time the Tartars wasted also Polonia, Silesia, and Hungaria, till Pope Innocent the Fourth obtain'd peace of them for 5 years. This Bathy, say the Russians, was the Father of Tamerlan, whom they call Temirkutla.
Then succeeded Iaroslaus the Brother of George, then Alexander his Son.
Daniel the Son of Alexander was he who first made the City of Mosco his Royal Seat, builded the Castle, and took on him the Title of great Duke.
Iohn the Son of Daniel was sirnamed Kaleta, that word signifying a Scrip, out of which, continually carried about with him, he was wont to deal his Almes.
His Son Simeon dying without Issue left the Kingdom to Iohn his next Brother; and he to his Son Demetrius, who left two Sons, Basilius and George.
Basilius reigning had a Son of his own name, but doubting lest not of his own Body, through the suspicion he had of his Wife's Chastity, him he disinherits, and gives the Dukedom to his Brother George.
George putting his Nephew Basilius in prison, reigns; yet at his death, either through remorse, or other cause surrenders him the Dukedom.
Basilius unexpectedly thus attaining his supposed right, enjoy'd it not long in quiet; for Andrew and Demetrius the two Sons of George counting it injury not to succeed their Father, made war upon him, and surprizing him on a suddain, put out his Eyes. Notwithstanding which, the Boiarens, or Nobles kept their allegiance to the Duke though blind, whom therefore they call'd Cziemnox.
Iohn Vasiliwich his Son was the first who brought the Russian Name out of obscurity into renown. To secure his own Estate he put to death as many of his kindred as were likely to pretend; and stil'd himself great Duke of Wolodimiria, Muscovia, Novogardia, Czar of all Russia. He won Plesco the onelyonly walled City in all Muscovy, and Novogrod the richest, from the Lituanians, to whom they had been subject 50 years before; and from the latter carried home 300 Waggons laden with Treasure. He had war with Alexander King of Poland, and with the Livonians; with him, on pretence of withdrawing his Daughter Helena, whom he had to wife, from the Greek Church to the Romish; with the Livonians for no other cause, but to enlarge his Bounds: though he were often foyl'd by Plettebergius great Master of the Prussian Knights. His Wife was Daughter to the Duke of Tyversky; of her he begat Iohn, and to him resigned his Dukedom; giving him to wife the Daughter of Steven, Palatine of Moldavia; by whom he had Issue Demetrius, and deceas'd soon after. Vasiliwich therefore reassuming the Dukedom married a second Wife Sophia Daughter to Thomas Palaeologus: who is said to have receiv'd her Dowry out of the Pope's Treasury, upon promise of the Duke to become Romish.
This Princess of a haughty mind, often complaining that she was married to the Tartars Vassal, at length by continual perswasions, and by a wile found means to ease her Husband, and his Country of that Yoke. For whereas till then the Tartar had his Procurators, who dwelt in the very Castle of Mosco, to oversee State-affairs, she fain'd that from Heaven she had been warn'd, to build a Temple to Saint Nicholas on the same place where the Tartar Agents had their House. Being therefore delivered of a Son, she made it her request to the Prince of Tartary, whom she had invited to the baptizing, that he would give her that House; which obtaining she raz'd to the ground; and remov'd those Overseers out of the Castle: and so by degrees dispossess'd them of all, which they held in Russia. She prevail'd also with her Husband to transfer the Dukedom from Demetrius the Son of Iohn deceas'd, to Gabriel his eldest by her.
Gabriel no sooner Duke, but chang'd his name to Basilius, and set his mind to doe nobly; he recover'd great part of Muscovy▪ from Vitoldus Duke of Lituania; and on the Boristhenes won Smolensko and many other Cities in the Year 1514.1514. He divorc'd his first Wife, and of Helena Daughter to Duke Glinsky begat Iuan Vasiliwich.
Iuan Vasiliwich being left a Child was committed to George his Unkle and Protector; at 25 years of age he vanquish'd the Tartars of Cazan and Astracan, bringing home with him their Princes captive; made cruel war in Livonia pretending right of inheritance. He seem'd exceedingly devout, and whereas the Russians in their Churches use out of zeal and reverence to knock their Heads against the ground, his Forehead was seldom free of swellings and bruzes, and very often seen to bleed. The cause of his rigour in government, he alledg'd to be the malice and treachery of his Subjects. But some of the Nobles incited by his cruelty,Horsey's Observations. call'd in the Crim Tartar who in the Year 1571.1571. broke into Russia, burnt Mosco to the ground: he reigned 54 years; had three Sons, of which the eldest being strook on a time by his Father, with grief thereof dy'd; his other Sons were Pheodor and Demetrius: in the time of Iuan Vasiliwich the English came first by Sea into the north parts of Russia.
Pheodor Iuanowick being under age was left to the protection of Boris Brother to the young Empress,1584. and third Son by adoption in the Emperour's Will.Hac. vol. 1. After 40 daies of mourning,466. Horsey. the appointed time of Coronation being come, the Emperour issuing out of his Palace, the whole Clergy before him, enter'd with his Nobility the Church of Blaueshina or blessedness; whence after Service to the Church of Michael, then to our Lady Church being the Cathedral. In midst whereof a Chair of Majesty was plac'd, and most unvaluable Garments put upon him: there also was the imperial Crown set on his Head by the Metropolitan, who out of a small Book in his hand read Exhortations to the Emperour, of justice and peaceable government. After this rising from his Chair he was invested with an upper Robe, so thick with Orient Pearls and Stones as weigh'd 200 pounds, the Train born up by 6 Dukes; his Staff imperial was of a Unicorn's Horn three foot and a half long, beset with rich Stones: his Globe, and six Crowns carried before him by Princes of the Bloud: his Horse at the Church door stood ready with a Covering of imbroidered Pearl, Saddle and all suitable to the value of 300 thousand Marks. There was a kind of Bridge made three waies, 150 fathom long, three foot high, two fathom broad, whereon the Emperour with his Train went from one Church to another above the infinite throng of People making loud Acclamations; At the Emperour's returning from those Churches they were spread under-foot, with Cloth of Gold, the Porches with Red Velvet, the Bridges with Scarlet and Stammel-cloth, all which, as the Emperour pass'd by, were cut and snatch't by them that stood next; besides new minted Coines of Gold and Silver cast among the People. The Empress in her Palace was plac't before a great open Window in rich and shining Robes, among her Ladies. After this the Emperour came into Parliament, where he had a Banquet serv'd by his Nobles in princely order; two standing on either side his Chair with Battelaxes of Gold; three of the next Roomes great and large being set round with Plate of Gold and Silver, from the ground up to the roof. This Triumph lasted a week, wherein many royal Pastimes were seen: after which, election was made of the Nobles to new Offices and Dignities. The conclusion of all was a Peal of 170 Brass Ordnance two miles without the City, and 20000 Harquebuzes twice over: and so the Emperour with at least 50 thousand Horse return'd through the City to his Palace: where all the Nobility, Officers, and Merchants brought him rich Presents. Shortly after, the Emperour by direction of Boris conquer'd the large Country of Siberia, and took Prisoner the King thereof: he remov'd also corrupt Officers and former Taxes. In sum, a great alteration in the Government follow'd, yet all quietly, and without tumult. These things reported abroad strook such awe into the neighbour Kings, that the Crim Tartar with his Wives also and many Nobles valiant and personable men came to visit the Russian. There came also 12 hundred Polish Gentlemen, many Circassians, and People of other Nations to offer service; Ambassadours from the Turk, the Persian, Georgian, and other Tartar Princes; from Almany, Poland, Sweden, Denmark. But this glory lasted not long through the treachery of Boris, who procur'd the death first of Demetrius, then of the Emperour himself, whereby the imperial Race after the succession of 300 years was quite extinguish't.
Boris, adopted, as before was said, third Son to Iuan Vasiliwich without impeachment now ascended the Throne; but neither did he enjoy long, what he had so wickedly compass'd;1604. Divine revenge raising up against him a Counterfeit of that Demetrius whom he had caus'd to be murthered at Ouglets. Pur. par. 3.750.This Upstart strength'd with many Poles and Cossacks appears in arms to claim his right out of the hands of Boris, who sent against him an Army of 200 thousand Men; many of whom revolted to this Demetrius: Peter Basman the General returning to Mosco with the empty Triumph of a reported Victory. But the Enemy still advancing, Boris one day, after a plentifull Meal finding himself heavy and pain'd in his Stomach laid him down on his Bed; but 'ere his Doctours, who made great haste, came to him, was found speechless, and soon after dy'd, with grief, as is suppos'd, of his ill success against Demetrius. Before his death, though it were speedy, he would be shorn, and new christn'd. He had but one Son, whom he lov'd so fondly, as not to suffer him out of sight; using to say he was Lord and Father of his Son, and yet his Servant, yea his Slave. To gain the Peoples love, which he had lost by his ill getting the Empire, he us'd two Policies; first he caus'd Mosco to be fir'd in four places, that in the quenching thereof he might shew his great care and tenderness of the People; among whom he likewise distributed so much of his Bounty, as both new-built their Houses, and repair'd their Losses. At another time the People murmuring, that the great Pestilence which had then swept away a third part of the Nation, was the punishment of their electing him, a Murtherer, to reign over them, he built Galleries round about the utmost Wall of Mosco; and there appointed for one whole month 20 thousand pound to be given to the Poor; which well nigh stopt their Mouths. After the death of Boris, Peter Basman their onelyonly hope and refuge, though a Young man, was sent again to the Wars, with him many English, Scots, French and Dutch; who all with the other General Goleeche sell off to the new Demetrius; whose Messengers coming now to the Suburbs of Mosco, were brought by the Multitude to that spatious Field before the Castle Gate; within which the Council were then sitting; many of whom were by the Peoples threatning call'd out and constrain'd to hear the Letters of Demetrius openly read: which, long 'ere the end, wrought so with the Multitude, that furiously they broke into the Castle, laying violence on all they met; when strait appear'd coming towards them two Messengers of Demetrius formerly sent, pittifully whipt and roasted, which added to their rage. Then was the whole City in an uproar, all the great Counselours Houses ransack't, especially of the Godonova's the Kindred and Family of Boris. Such of the Nobles that were best belov'd, by entreaty prevail'd at length to put an end to this Tumult. The Empress flying to a safer place had her Collar of Pearl pull'd from her Neck; and by the next Message command was given to secure her with her Son and Daughter. Whereupon Demetrius by general consent was proclaim'd Emperour. The Empress now seeing all lost, counsel'd the Prince her Son to follow his Father's example; who, it seems, had dispatch't himself by Poyson; and with a desperate courage beginning the deadly Health, was pledg'd effectually by her Son; but the Daughter onelyonly sipping, escap'd. Others ascribe this deed to the secret Command of Demetrius, and Self-murther imputed to them, to avoid the envy of such a Command.
Demetrius Evanowich, Pur. par. 3.for so he call'd himself,764. who succeeded, was credibly reported the Son of Gregory Peupoloy a Russe Gentleman, and in his younger years to have been shorn a Fryar; but escaping from the Monastery, to have travail'd Germany and other Countries, but chiefly Poland: where he attain'd to good sufficiency in Arms and other Experience; which rais'd in him such high thoughts, as grounding on a common belief among the Russians, that the young Demetrius was not dead, but convey'd away, and their hatred against Boris, on this foundation with some other circumstances, to build his hopes no lower than an Empire; which on his first discovery found acceptation so generally, as planted him at length on the Royal Seat; but not so firmly as the fair beginning promis'd; for in a short while the Russians finding themselves abus'd by an Impostor, on the sixth day after his marriage▪ observing when his Guard of Poles were most secure, rushing into the Palace before break of day, drag'd him out of his Bed, and when he had confes'd the fraud, pull'd him to pieces; with him Peter Basman was also slain, and both their dead Bodies laid open in the Market-place. He was of no presence, but otherwise of a princely disposition; too bountifull, which occasion'd some exactions; in other matters a great lover of justice, not unworthy the Empire which he had gotten, and lost onelyonly through greatness of mind, neglecting the Conspiracy, which he knew the Russians were plotting. Some say their hatred grew, for that they saw him alienated from the Russian Manners and Religion, having made Buchinskoy a learned Protestant his Secretary. Some report from Gilbert's relation, who was a Scot, and Captain, of his Guard, that lying on his Bed awake, not long before the Conspiracy, he saw the appearance of an aged man coming toward him; at which he rose, and call'd to them that watch'd; but they denied to have seen any such pass by them. He returning to his Bed, and within an hour after troubl'd again with the same Apparition, sent for Buchinskoy, telling him he had now twice the same night seen an aged man, who at his second coming told him, that though he were a good Prince of himself, yet for the injustice and oppression of his inferiour Ministers, his Empire should be taken from him. The Secretary counsell'd him to embrace true Religion, affirming that for lack thereof, his Officers were so corrupt. The Emperour seem'd to be much mov'd, and to intend what was perswaded him. But a few daies after, the other Secretary, a Russian, came to him with a drawn Sword; of which the Emperour made slight at first; but he after bold words assaulted him, strait seconded by other Conspiratours crying liberty. Gilbert with many of the Guard oversuddenly surpris'd retreated to Coluga a Town which they fortify'd; most of the other Strangers were massacr'd, except the English, whose mediation sav'd also Buchinskoy. Shusky who succeeded him reports in a Letter to King Iames otherwise of him; that his right name was Gryshca the Son of Boughdan; that to escape punishment for Villanies done, he turn'd Fryar, and fell at last to the Black art; and fearing that the Metropolitan intended therefore to imprison him, fled into Lettow; where by counsel of Sigismund the Poland King, he began to call himself Demetry of Ouglitts; and by many Libels and Spies privily sent into Mosco, gave out the same; that many Letters and Messengers thereupon were sent from Boris into Poland, and from the Patriarch, to acquaint them who the Runnagate was; but the Polanders, giving them no credit, furnish't him the more with Arms and Money, notwithstanding the League; and sent the Palatine Sandamersko and other Lords to accompany him into Russia, gaining also a Prince of the Crim Tartars to his aide; that the Army of Boris hearing of his sudden death, yielded to this Gryshca, who taking to wife the Daughter of Sandamersko, attempted to root out the Russian Clergy, and to bring in the Romish Religion, for which purpose many Jesuits came along with him. Whereupon Shusky with the Nobles and Metropolitans conspiring against him, in half a year gather'd all the Forces of Moscovia, and surprising him found in writing under his own hand all these his Intentions; Letters also from the Pope and Cardinals to the same effect, not onelyonly to set up the Religion of Rome, but to force it upon all, with death to them that refus'd.
Vasily Evanowich Shusky after the slaughter of Demetry or Gryshca was elected Emperour;1606. having not long before been at the Block for reporting to have seen the true Demetrius dead and buried; but Gryshca not onelyonly recall'd him, but advanc'd him, to be the instrument of his own ruine. He was then about the age of 50; nobly descended, never married, of great wisedom reputed, a favourer of the English; for he sav'd them from ritling in the former Tumults. Some say he modestly refus'd the Crown,Purch. till by lot four times together it fell to him;part. 3. yet after that,769, &c. growing jealous of his Title, remov'd by Poyson, and other means all the Nobles that were like to stand his Rivals; and is said to have consulted with Witches of the Samoeds, Lappians and Tartarians, about the same fears; and being warn'd of one Michalowich, to have put to death three of that name; yet a fourth was reserv'd by fate to succeed him; being then a Youth attendant in the Court, one of those that held the golden Axes, and least suspected. But before that time he also was supplanted by another reviving Demetrius brought in by the Poles; whose counterfeited Hand, and strange relating of privatest Circumstances had almost deceiv'd Gilbert himself; had not their persons been utterly unlike; but Gryshca's Wife so far believ'd him for her Husband, as to receive him to her Bed. Shusky besieg'd in his Castle of Mosco, was adventrously supply'd with some Powder and Ammunition by the English; and with 2000 French, English and Scots, with other Forces from Charles King of Sweden. The English after many miseries of cold,1609. and hunger and assaults by the way, deserted by the French, yielded most of them to the Pole, neer Smolensko, and serv'd him against the Russ. Mean while this second Demetrius being now rejected by the Poles, 779.with those Russians that sided with him laid siege to Mosco: Zolkiewsky for Sigismund King of Poland Beleaguers on the other side with forty thousand Men; whereof 1500 English, Scotch, and French. Shusky despairing success betakes him to a Monastery; but with the City is yielded to the Pole; who turns now his force against the Counterfeit Demetrius; he seeking to fly is by a Tartar slain in his Camp. Smolensko held out a siege of two years, then surrender'd. Shusky the Emperour carried away into Poland, there ended miserably in prison. But before his departure out of Muscovy the Polanders in his name sending for the chief Nobility as to a last farewell, cause them to be entertain'd in a secret place, and there dispatch'd: by this means the easier to subdue the People. Yet the Poles were starv'd at length out of those Places in Mosco which they had fortify'd. Wherein the Russians who besieg'd them, found, as is reported, 60 Barrels of Man's Flesh powder'd, being the Bodies of such as dy'd among them, or were slain in fight.
After which the Empire of Russia broke to pieces,1612. the prey of such as could catch, every one naming himself, and striving to be accounted that Demetrius of Ouglitts. Some chose Vladislaus King Sigismund's Son, but he not accepting, they fell to a popular Government; killing all the Nobles under pretence of favouring the Poles. Some overtures of receiving them were made, as some say, to King Iames, and Sir Iohn Meric, and Sir William Russel imploy'd therein. Thus Russia remaining in this confusion, it happen'd that a mean Man, a Butcher dwelling in the North about Duina, Purch.inveying against the baseness of their Nobility,part. 3. and the corruption of Officers,790. uttered words, that if they would but choose a faithfull Treasurer to pay well the Souldiers, and a good General (naming one Pozarsky a poor Gentleman, who after good service done liv'd not far off retir'd and neglected;) that then he doubted not to drive out the Poles. The People assent, and choose that General; the Butcher they make their Treasurer who both so well discharg'd their Places, that with an Army soon gather'd they raise the siege of Mosco, which the Polanders had renew'd; and with Boris Licin another great Souldier of that Countrey fall into consultation about the choise of an Emperour, and chose at last Michalowich, or Michael Pheodorowich, the fatal Youth, whose name Shusky so fear'd.
Michael Pheodorowich thus elected by the valour of Pozarsky and Boris Licin, 1613.made them both Generals of his Forces, joyning with them another great Commander of the Cossacks whose aid had much befriended him; the Butcher also was made a Counselour of State. Finally a Peace was made up between the Russians and the Poles; and that partly by the mediation of King Iames.