subiects, as also vnto strangers which serue him either in his warres, or
in occupations: for his pleasure is that they shall dine oftentimes in the
yeere in his presence, and besides that he is oftentimes abroad, either at
one Church or another, and walking with his noble men abroad. And by this
meanes he is not onely beloued of his nobles and commons, but also had in
great dread and feare through all his dominions, so that I thinke no prince
in Christendome is more feared of his owne then he is, nor yet better
beloued. For if he bid any of his Dukes goe, they will runne, if he giue
any euil or angrie worde to any of them, the partie will not come into his
maiesties presence againe of a long time if he be not sent for, but will
faine him to be very sicke, and will let the haire of his head grow very
long, without either cutting or shauing, which is an euident token that hee
is in the Emperors displeasure: for when they be in their prosperity, they
account it a shame to weare long haire, in consideration whereof, they vse
to haue their heads shauen.
[Sidenote: Note.] His maiesty heareth all complaints himselfe, and with his
owne mouth giueth sentence, and iudgement of all matters, and that with
expedition: but religious matters he medleth not withall, but referreth
them wholly vnto the Metropolitane.
His maiestie retaineth and well rewardeth all strangers that come to serue
him, and especially men of warre.
Hee delighteth not greatly in hawking, hunting, or any other pastime, nor
in hearing instruments or musicke, but setteth all his whole delight vpon
two things: First, to serue God, as vndoubtedly he is very deuoute in his
religion, and the second, howe to subdue and conquere his enemies.
He hath abundance of gold and siluer in his owne handes or treasurie: but
the most part of his subiects know not a crowne from a counter, nor gold
from copper, they are so much cumbred therewithall, and he that is worth 2.
3. or 4. grotes, is a rich man.
Of their religious men.
The Metropolitane is next vnto God, our Lady and S. Nicholas excepted: for
the Emperors maiestie iudgeth and affirmeth him to be of higher dignitie
then himselfe; for that, saith he, he is Gods spiritual officer, and I the
Emperour am his temporall officer, and therefore his maiestie submitteth
himselfe vnto him in many things concerning religious matters, as in
leading the Metropolitans horse vpon Palme Sunday, and giuing him leaue to
sitte on a chaire vpon the 12. day, when the riuer Mosco was in blessing,
his maiestie standing on the yce.
All matters of religion are reformed by the Metropolitane, he heareth the
causes and giueth sentence as himselfe listeth, and is authorized so to
doe, whether it be to whip, hang or burne, his will must needs be
fulfilled.
They haue both monks, friers and nunnes, with a great number of great and
rich monasteries: they keepe great hospitalitie, and doe relieue much poore
people day by day. I haue bene in one of the monasteries called Troietes,
[Footnote: There was a monastery answering this description, but its name
was Trajetski.] which is walled about with bricke very strongly like a
castle, and much ordinance of brasse vpon the walles of the same. They told
me themselues that there are seuen hundred brethren of them which belong
vnto that house. The most part of the lands, towns, and villages which are
within 40. miles of it, belong vnto the same. They shewed me the church,
wherein were as many images as could hang about, or vpon the wals of the
Church round about, and euen the roofe of the church was painted ful of
images. The chiefe image was of our Ladie, which was garnished with gold,
rubies, saphirs and other rich stones abundantly. In the midst of the
church stood 12. waxe tapers of two yards long, and a fathom about in
bignesse, and there stands a kettle full of waxe with about 100. weight,
wherein there is alwayes the wicke of a candle burning, as it were a lampe
which goeth not out day nor night.
They shewed me a coffin couered with cloth of gold which stoode vpon one
side within their church, in which they told me lay a holy man, who neuer
eate or dranke, and yet that he liueth. And they told me (supposing that I
had beleeued them) that he healeth many diseases, and giueth the blind
their sight, with many other miracles, but I was hard of belief because I
saw him worke no miracle whilest I was there.
After this they brought me into their sellers, and made me taste of diuers
kinds of drinks, both wine and beere, mead and quassie, of sundry colours
and kinds. Such abundance of drink as they haue in their sellers, I doe
suppose few princes haue more, or so much at once.
Their barrels or vessels are of an vnmeasurable bignes and sise: some of
them are 3. yards long and more, and 2. yards and more broad in their
heads: they conteine 6. or 7. tunnes a piece: they haue none in their
sellers of their owne making that are lesse then a tunne. They haue 9. or
10. great vautes which are full of those barrels which are seldome
remooued: for they haue trunks which come downe through the roofe of the
vautes in sundry places, through which they powre drinke downe, hauing the
caske right vnder it to receiue the same, for it should be a great trouble
to bring it all downe the stayres.
[Sidenote: The hospitalitie of their monasteries.] They giue bread, meat
and drinke vnto all men that come to them, not onely while they are at
their abbey, but also when they depart, to serue them by the way.
There are a great number of such monasteries in the Realm, and the Emperors
maiesty rideth oftentimes from one to another of them, and lieth at them 3.
or 4. daies together.
The same monkes are as great merchants as any in the land of Russia, and
doe occupy buying and selling as much as any other men, and haue boats
which passe too and fro in the riuers with merchandize from place to place
where any of their countrey do traffike.
They eate no flesh during their liues as it is reported: but vpon Sunday,
Munday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday it is lawfull for them to eate
egges, butter, cheese, and milke, and at all times to eate fish, and after
this sort they lead their liues.
They weare all blacke garments, and so doe none other in all the lande, but
at that abbey onely.
[Sidenote: Want of preachers cause of great ignorance and idolatry.] They
haue no preachers no not one in al the land to instruct the People, so that
there are many, and the most part of the poore in the countrey, who if one
aske them how many gods there be, they wil say a great many, meaning that
euery image which they haue is a god: for all the countrey and the
Emperours maiesty himselfe wil blesse and bowe, and knocke their heads
before their images, in so much that they will crie earnestly unto their
images to helpe them to the things which they need. Al men are bound by
their law to haue those images in their houses, and ouer euery gate in all
their townes and cities are images set vp, vnto which the people bow and
bend, and knocke their heads against the ground before them: as often as
they come by any church or crosse they do in like maner. And when they come
to any house, they blesse themselues 3. or 4. times before they will salute
any man in the house.
They reckon and hold it for great sinne to touch or handle any of their
images within the circle of the boord where the painting is, but they keep
them very daintily, and rich men deck them ouer and about with gold, siluer
and stones, and hang them ouer and about with cloth of gold.
The priestes are married as other men are, and weare all their garments as
other men doe, except their nightcaps, which is cloth of some sad colour,
being round, and reacheth vnto the eares: their crownes are shauen, but the
rest of their haire they let grow as long as nature will permit, so that it
hangeth beneath their eares vpon their shoulders: their beards they neuer
shaue: if his wife happen to die, it is not lawfull for him to mary againe
during his life.
They minister the Communion with bread and wine after our order, but he
breaketh the bread and putteth it into the cup vnto the wine, and commonly
some are partakers with them: and they take the bread out againe with a
spoon together with part of the wine, and so take it themselues, and giue
it to others that receiue with them after the same maner.
Their ceremonies are al as they say, according to the Greeke Church vsed at
this present day, and they allow no other religion but the Greeks, and
their owne: and will not permit any nation but the Greeks to be buried in
their sacred burials, or churchyards.
All their churches are full of images, vnto the which the people when they
assemble, doe bowe and knocke their heads, as I haue before said, that some
will haue knobbes vpon their foreheads with knocking, as great as egges.
[Sidenote: Al their seruice is in their mother tongue.] All their seruice
is in the Russe tongue, and they and the common people haue no other
praiers but this, _Ghospodi Iesus Christos esine voze ponuloi nashe_. That
is to say, O Lorde Iesus Christ, sonne of God haue mercy upon vs: and this
is their prayer, so that the most part of the vnlearned know neither Pater
noster, nor the Beliefe, nor Ten commandements, nor scarcely vnderstand the
one halfe of their seruice which is read in their Churches.
Of their Baptisme.
When any child is borne, it is not baptised vntil the next Sunday, and if
it chance that it be not baptized then, it must tary vntil the next Sunday
after the birth, and it is lawfull for them to take as manie Godfathers and
Godmothers as they will, the more the better.
When they go to the Church, the midwife goeth foremost, carrying the
childe, and the Godfathers and Godmothers follow into the midst of the
Church, where there is a small table ready set, and on it an earthen pot
ful of warme water, about the which the Godfathers and Godmothers, with the
childe, settle themselues: then the clerke giueth vnto euery of them a smal
waxe candle burning, then commeth the priest, and beginneth to say certaine
words, which the Godfathers and Godmothers must answere word for word,
among which one is, that the childe shal forsake the deuill, and as that
name is pronounced, they must all spit at the word as often as it is
repeated. Then he blesseth the water which is in the pot, and doth breathe
ouer it: then he taketh al the candles which the gosseps haue, and holding
them all in one hand letteth part of them drop into the water, and then
giueth euery one his candle againe, and when the water is sanctified, he
taketh the childe and holdeth it in a small tubbe, and one of the
Godfathers taketh the pot with warme water, and powreth it all vpon the
childs head.
After this he hath many more ceremonies, as anoynting eares and eyes with
spittle, and making certaine crosses with oyle vpon the backe, head, and
brest of the childe: then taking the childe in his armes, carieth it to the
images of S. Nicholas, and our Ladie, &c. and speaketh vnto the images,
desiring them to take charge of the childe, that he may liue, and beleeue
as a Christian man or woman ought to doe, with many other words. Then
comming backe from the images, he taketh a paire of sheares and clippeth
the yong and tender haires of the childes head in three or foure places,
and then deliuereth the childe, whereunto euery of the Godfathers and
Godmothers lay a hand: then the priest chargeth them, that the childe be
brought vp in the faith and feare of God or Christ, and that it be
instructed to clinege and bow to the images, end so they make an end: then
one of the Godfathers must hang a crosse about the necke of the childe,
which he must alwayes weare, for that Russe which hath not a crosse about
his necke they esteeme as no Christian man, and thereupon they say that we
are no Christians, because we do not weare crosses as they do.
Of their Matrimonie.
Their matrimonie is nothing solemnized, but rather in most points
abominable, and as neere as I can learne, in this wise following.
First, when there is loue betweene the parties, the man sendeth vnto the
woman a small chest or boxe, wherein is a whip, needles, threed, silke,
linnen cloth, sheares, and such necessaries as shee shall occupie when she
is a wife, and perhaps sendeth therewithall raisins, figs or some such
things, giuing her to vnderstand, that if she doe offend she must be beaten
with the whip, and by the needles, threed, cloth, &c. that she should apply
her selfe diligently to sowe, and do such things as shee could best doe,
and by the raisins or fruites he meaneth if she doe well, no good thing
shalbe withdrawn from her, nor be too deare for her: and she sendeth vnto
him a shirt, handkerchers, and some such things of her owne making. And now
to the effect.
When they are agreed, and the day of marriage appointed when they shall goe
towardes the Church, the bride will in no wise consent to go out of the
house, but resisteth and striueth with them that would haue her out, and
faineth her selfe to weepe, yet in the end, two women get her out, and lead
her towards the church, her face being couered close, because of her
dissimulation, that it should not be openly perceiued: for she maketh a
great noise, as though she were sobbing and weeping, vntil she come at the
Church, and then her face is vncouered. The man commeth after among other
of his friends, and they cary with them to the church a great pot of wine
or mead: then the priest coupleth them together much after our order, one
promising to loue and seme the other during their liues together, &c. which
being done, they begin to drinke, and first the woman drinketh to the man,
and when he hath drunke he letteth the cuppe fell to the ground, hasting
immediately to tread vpon it, and so doth she, and whether of them tread
first vpon it must haue the victorie and be master at all times after,
which commonly happeneth to the man, for he is readiest to set his foot on
it, because he letteth it fall himselfe, then they goe home againe, the
womans face beeing vncouered. The boyes in the streetes crie out and make a
noyse in the meanetime, with very dishonest wordes.
When they come home, the wife is set at the vpper end of the table, and the
husband next vnto her: they fall then to drinking till they bee all drunke,
they perchance haue a minstrell or two, and two naked men, which led her
from the Church daunce naked a long time before all the companie. When they
are wearie of drinking, the bride and the bridegrome get them to bed, for
it is in the euening alwayes when any of them are married: and when they
are going to bedde, the bridegrome putteth certain money both golde and
siluer, if he haue it, into one of his boots, and then sitteth down in the
chamber, crossing his legges, and then the bride must plucke off one of his
boots, which she will, and if she happen on the boote wherein the money is,
she hath not onely the money for her labor, but is also at such choyse, as
she need not euer from that day forth to pul off his boots, but if she
misse the boot wherin the money is, she doth not onely loose the money, but
is also bound from that day forwards to pull off his boots continually.
Then they continue in drinking and making good cheere three daies
following, being accompanied with certaine of their friends, and during the
same three daies he is called a Duke, and shee a dutches, although they be
very poore persons, and this is as much as I haue learned of their
matrimony: but one common rule is amongst them, if the woman be not beaten
with the whip once a weeke, she will not be good, and therefore they looke
for it orderly, and the women say, that if their husbands did not beate
them, they should not loue them.
They vse to marry there very yong, their sonnes at 16. and 18. yeeres old,
and the daughters at 12. or 13. yeeres or yonger: they vse to keepe their
wiues very closely, I meane those that be of any reputation, so that a man
shall not see one of them but at a chance, when she goeth to church at
Christmas or at Easter, or els going to visite some of her friends.
The most part of the women vse to ride a stride in saddles with styropes,
as men do, and some of them on sleds, which in summer is not commendable.
[Sidenote: The women of Russia paint their faces.] The husband is bound to
finde the wife colours to paint her withall, for they vse ordinarily to
paynt themselues: it is such a common practise among them, that it is
counted for no shame: they grease their faces with such colours, that a man
may discerne them hanging on their faces almost a flight shoote off: I
cannot so well liken them as to a millers wife, for they looke as though
they were beaten about the face with a bagge of meale, but their eye browes
they colour as blacke as ieat.
The best propertie that the women haue, is that they can sowe well, and
imbroder with silke and golde excellently.
Of their buriall.
When any man or woman dieth, they stretch him out, and put a new paire of
shooes on his feete, because he hath a great iourney to goe: then doe they
winde him in a sheet, as we doe, but they forget not to put a testimonie in
his right hand, which the priest giueth him, to testifie vnto S. Nicholas
that he died a Christian man or woman. And they put the coarse alwayes in a
coffin of wood, although the partie be very poore: and when they goe
towards the Church, the friends and kinsemen of the partie departed carrie
in their hands small waxe candles, and they weepe and howle, and make much
lamentation.
They that be hanged or beheaded, or such like, haue no testimonie with
them: how they are receiued into heauen, it is a wonder, without their
passport.
There are a great number of poore people among them which die daily for
lacke of sustenance, which is a pitifull case to beholde: for there hath
beene buried in a small time, within these two yeeres, aboue 80. persons
young and old, which haue died onely for lacke of sustenance: for if they
had had straw and water enough, they would make shift to liue: [Sidenote:
Bread made of straw.] for a great many are forced in the winter to drie
straw and stampe it, and to make bread thereof, or at the least they eate
it in stead of bread. In the summer they make good shift with grasse,
herbes and rootes: barks of trees are good meat with them at all times.
[Sidenote: The vnmercifulnesse of the Russes toward the poor.] There is no
people in the world, as I suppose, that liue so miserably as do the pouerty
in those parts, and the most part of them that haue sufficient for
themselues, and also to relieue others that need, are so vmnerciful that
they care not how many they see die of famine or hunger in the streets.
[Sidenote: Stooues or baths vsuall with the Muscovites.] It is a countrey
full of diseases, diuers, and euill, and the best remedy is for anie of
them, as they holde opinion, to goe often vnto the hote houses, as in a
maner euery man hath one of his owne, which hee heateth commonly twise
euery weeke, and all the bouseholde sweate, and wash themselues therein.
The names of certaine sortes of drinkes vsed in Russia, and commonly drunke
in the Emperours Court.
[Sidenote: Reported by Thomas Bulley.] The first and principall meade is
made of the iuice or liccour taken from a berrie called in Russia, Malieno,
which is of a marueilous sweete taste, and of a carmosant colour, which
berry I haue seene in Paris.
The second meade is called Visnoua, because it is made of a berry so
called, and is like a black gooseberrie: but it is like in colour and taste
to the red wine of France.
The third meade is called Amarodina or Smorodina, short, of a small berry
much like to the small rezin, and groweth in great plentie in Russia.
The fourth meade is called Chereunikyna, which is made of the wilde blacke
cherry.
The fift meade is made of hony and water, with other mixtures.
There is also a delicate drinke drawn from the root of the birch tree,
called in the Russe tongue Berozeuites, which drinke the noble men and
others vse in Aprill, May, and Iune, which are the three moneths of the
spring time: for after those moneths, the sappe of the tree dryeth, and
then they cannot haue it.
* * * * *
The voyage of Master Anthony Ienkinson, made from the citie of Mosco in
Russia, to the citie of Boghar in Bactria, in the yeere 1558: written by
himselfe to the Merchants of London of the Moscouie company.
The 23. day of April, in the yeere 1558. (hauing obtained the Emperor of
Russia his letters, directed vnto sundry kings and princes, by whose
dominions I should passe) I departed from Mosco by water, hauing with mee
two of your seruants, namely, Richard Iohnson, and Robert Iohnson, and a
Tartar Tolmach, with diuers parcels of wares, as by the inuentory
appeareth: and the 28. day we came to a town called Collom, distant from
the Mosco 20. leagues, and passing one league beyond the saide Collom, we
came vnto a riuer called Occa, into the which the riuer Mosco falleth, and
looseth his name: and passing downe the said riuer Occa 8. leagues, we came
vnto a castle called Terreuettisko, which we left vpon our right hand, and
proceeding forward, the second day of May, we came vnto another castle
called Peroslaue, distant 8. leagues, leauing it also on our right hand.
The third day we came vnto the place where olde Rezan was situate, beeing
now most of it ruined and ouergrowen, and distant from the said Peroslaue,
6. leagues: the 4. day we passed by a castle called Terrecouia, from Rezan
12. leagues, and the 6. day we came to another castle called Cassim, vnder
the gouernment of a Tartar prince named Vtzar Zegoline, sometime Emperour
of the worthy citie of Cazan, and now subiect vnto the Emperour of Russia.
But leauing Cassim on our left hand, the 8. day we came vnto a faire town
called Morom, from Cassim 20. leagues, where we took the sonne, and found
the lattitude 56 degrees: and proceeding forward the 11. day, we came vnto
another faire town and castle called Nyse Nouogrode, situated at the
falling of the foresaid riuer Occa into the worthie riuer of Volga, distant
from the saide Moron [Transcriber's note: sic.] 25. leagues, in the
latitude of 56. degrees 18. minutes. From Rezan to this Nyse Nouogrod, on
both sides the said riuer of Occa, is raised the greatest store of waxe and
hony in all the land of Russia. We tarried at the foresaid Nyse Nouogrode
vntil the 19. day, for the comming of a captain which was sent by the
Emperour to rule at Astracan, who beeing arriued, and hauing the number of
500. great boates vnder his conduct, some laden with victuals, souldiers,
and munition: and other some with merchandise, departed altogether the said
19. day from the said Nyse Nouogrode, and the 22. we came vnto a castle
called Vasiliagorod, distant 25. leagues, which we left vpon our right
hand. This towne or castle had his name of this Emperors father, who was
called Vasilius, and gorod in the Russe tongue is as much as to say as a
castle, so that Vasiliagorod is to say, Vasilius castle: and it was the
furthest place that the said Emperour conquered from the Tartars. But this
present Emperour his sonne, called Iuan Vasiliwich, hath had great good
successe in his warres, both against the Christians and also the
Mahometists and Gentiles, but especially against the Tartars, inlarging his
Empire euen to the Caspian sea, hauing conquered the famous riuer of Volga,
with all the countries there about adiacent. Thus proceeding on our iourney
the 25. day of May aforesaide, wee came to another castle called
Sabowshare, which wee left on our right hand, distant from Vasiliagorod 16.
leagues. The countrey heereabout is called Mordouits, and the habitants did
professe the law of the Gentiles: but nowe beeing conquered by this
Emperour of Russia, most of them are christened, but lie in the woods and
wildernesse, without towne or habitation.