4

TO suffer their subiects to giue freely to the Monasteries (which for their super∣stition very many doe, specially in their last wils) & to lay vp their money and substance in them, to keepe it more safe. Which all is permitted thē without any restraint or pro∣uiso, as was & is in some countries of christē∣dome. Whereby their Monasteries grow to exceeding great wealth. This they do to haue the money of the Realme better stored toge∣ther, and more ready for their hand, when they list to take it. Which manie times is done without anie noyse: the Fryers beeyng content rather to part from somewhat (as the encrease groweth) then to loose all at once. Which they were made to doubt of in the other Emperours dayes.

To this end Iuan Vasilowich late Emperour Page  43 vsed a very strange practise,* that few Princes would haue done in their greatest extremi∣ties. He resigned his kingdome to one Velica Knez Simeon, the Emperours sonne of Ga∣zan: as though hee meant to draw himselfe from al publike doings to aquiet priuat life. Towards the end of the yeere, hee caused this newe King to call in all Charters graun∣ted to Bishoprickes and Monasteries, which they had enioyed manie hundred yeeres before. Which were all cancelled. This done (as in dislike of the fact and of the misgouernment of the newe King) hee re∣sumed his scepter, and so was content as in fauour to the Church and religious men) that they should renew their charters, & take them of himselfe: reseruing and annexing to the Crowne so much of their lands, as him∣selfe thought good.

By this practise hee wrung from the Bi∣shoprickes, and Monasteries (besides the landes which he annexed to the Crowne) an huge masse of money. From some 40, from some 50, from some an hundred thousande rubbels. And this aswell for the increase of his treasurie, as to abate the ill opini∣on of his harde gouernment, by a shewe of woorse in an other man. Wherein his strange spirite is to bee noted: that beyng hated of his subiectes, (as himselfe knew wel Page  [unnumbered] inough) yet would venture such a practise, to set an other in his saddle, that might haue ridde away with his horse, while himselfe walked by on foote.