Of the Russe common wealth. Or, Maner of gouernement of the Russe emperour, (commonly called the Emperour of Moskouia) with the manners, and fashions of the people of that countrey.

Their forces for the warres, with the chief officers and their salaries. (Book 15)

The 15. Chapter. (Book 15)

THe souldiers of Russia are cal∣led Sinaboiarskey, or the sons of Gentlemen: because they are all of that degree, by ver∣tue of their millitary professi∣on. For euery souldier in Rus∣sia is a gentleman, and none are gentlemen, but only the souldiers, that take it by discent from their ancestors: so that the sonne of a gentleman (which is borne a souldier) is euer a gentlemā,* 1.1 & a souldier withal▪ & professeth nothing els but militarie matters. Whē they are of yeeres able to beare armes, they come to the office of Roserade, or great Consta∣ble, and there present themselues: who en∣treth their names, and allotteth them cer∣teine lands to maintein their charges, for the most part the same that their fathers enioy∣ed For the lands assigned to mainteine the army, are euer certein, annexed to this office without improuing, or detracting one foot. But that if the Emperour haue sufficient in wages, the roomes being full so farre as the lande doeth extend already, they are manie

times deferred, and haue nothing allowed them, except some one portiō of the land be deuided into two. Which is a cause of great disorder within that countrie: when a souldi∣er that hath many children, shal haue some∣times but one intertained in the Emperours pay. So that the rest hauing nothing, are for∣ced to liue by vniust and wicked shiftes, that tend to the hurt & oppression of the Mou∣sick, or common sort of people. This incon∣uenience groweth by mainteining his forces in a continual succession. The whole num∣ber of his souldiers in continual pay, is this. First, he hath of his Dworaney, that is, Pensio∣ners, or Gard of his person, to the number of 15000. horsemen, with their captaines, and other officers, that are alwaies in a readines.

Of these 15000. horsemen,* 1.2 there are three sorts or degrees, which differ aswell in esti∣mation, as in wages, one degree from ano∣ther.* 1.3 The first sort of them is, called Dwora∣ney Bulshey, or the company of head Pensio∣ners, that haue, some an hundred, some four∣score rubbels a yeere, and none vnder 70. The second sort are called Seredney Dwora∣ney, or the middle ranke of Pensioners. These haue sixty, or fiftie rubbels by the yere, none vnder fourtie. The third and lowest sort are the Dyta Boiarskey, that is, the lowe Pensio∣ners. Their salarie is thirty rubbels a yere for

him that hath most, some haue but fiue and twentie, some twentie, none vnder twelue. Whereof the halfe part is paid them at the Mosko, the other halfe in the field by the ge∣nerall, when they haue anie warres, and are imployed in seruice. When they receiue their whole pay, it amounteth to 55000. rubbels by the yeere.

And this is their wages, besides lands al∣lotted to euery one of them, both to the greater and the lesse, according to their de∣grees. Whereof he that hath least, hath to yeeld him twentie rubbels, or marks by the yeere. Besides these 15000. horsemen▪ that are of better choyce (as being the Emperors own gard when himself goeth to the warres, not vnlike the Romane souldiers called Prae∣toriani) are a 110. men of special account for their Nobilitie, and trust, which are chosen by the Emperour, and haue their names re∣gistred,* 1.4 that find among them for the Empe∣rours warres, to the number of 65000. hors∣men, with all necessaries meet for the warres after the Russe manner.

To this end they haue yeerely allowance made by the Emperour for themselues, and their companies, to the summe of 40000. rubbels. And these 65000 are to repaire to the field euery yeere on the borders towards the Chrim Tartar, (except they bee appoyn∣ted

for some other seruice) whether there be warres with the Tartars, or not. This might seeme peraduenture somwhat dangerous for some state, to haue so great forces vnder the command of Noblemen to assemble euerie yeere to one certeine place. But the matter is so vsed, as that no danger can grow to the Emperour, or his state by this meanes. 1. Be∣cause these noblemen are manie, to wit, an 110. in all, and changed by the Emperor so oft as he thinketh good. 2. Because they haue their liuings of the Emperour, being other∣wise but of very small reuenue, and receiue this yeerely pay of 40000. rubbels, when it is presently to be paide foorth againe to the souldiers that are vnder 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 payma∣sters, then Captaines to their companies, themselues not going forth ordinarily to the warres, saue when some of them are appoin∣ted by speciall order from the Emperour himselfe.* 1.5 So the whole number of horsemen that are euer in a readinesse, and in continu∣all pay, are 80000, a few more or lesse.

If hee haue neede of a greater number (which seldome falleth out) then he inter∣teineth of those Sinaboiarskey, that are out of pay, so many as hee needeth: and if yet hee

want of his number, he giueth charge to his Noblemen, that hold lands of him, to bring into the fielde euery man a proportiona∣ble number of his seruaunts (called Kolo∣phey, such as till his lands) with their furni∣ture, according to the iust number that he intendeth to make. Which the seruice be∣ing done, presently lay in their weapons, and returne to their seruile occupations a∣gaine.

Of footmen that are in continuall pay,* 1.6 he hath to the number of 12000. all Gunners, called Strelsey. Whereof 5000. are to attend about the Citie of Mosko, or any other place where the Emperour shall abide, and 2000. (which are called Stremaney, Stresley, or Gunners at the stirrop) about his owne person at the verie Court or house where himselfe lodgeth. The rest are placed in his garrison Townes, till there be occasion to haue them in the fielde, and receiue for their salarie or stipend euery man seuen rubbels a yeere, besides twelue measures, a piece of Rye, and Oates. Of mercena∣rie Souldiers, that are strangers (whom they call Nimschoy) they haue at this time 4300.* 1.7 of Polonians: of Chirchasses (that are vn∣der the Polonians) about 4. thousand, where∣of 3500. are abroad in his garrisons: of Dout∣ches and Scots about 150: of Greekes, Turks,

Danes and Sweadens, all in one band, an 100. or thereabouts. But these they vse onely vp∣on the Tartar side, and against the Siberi∣ans: as they doe the Tartar souldiers (whom they hire sometimes, but onely for the pre∣sent) on the other side against the Polonian and Sweaden: thinking it best pollicie so to vse their seruice vpon the contrary bor∣der.

The chiefe Captaines or leaders of these forces,* 1.8 according to their names, and de∣grees,* 1.9 are these which follow. First the Voy∣auodey Bulshaia, that is, the Great Captaine, or Lieftenant generall vnder the Emperour. This commonly is one of the foure hou∣ses of the chiefe Nobilitie of the lande: but so chosen otherwise, as that hee is of small valure, or practise in martiall mat∣ters, beeyng thought to serue that turne so much the better, if hee bring no other partes with him saue the countenance of his Nobilitie, to bee liked of by the souldiers for that, and nothing els. For in this poynt they are very warie that these two (to wit) no∣bilitie, and power meet not both in one, spe∣cially if they see wisedome with all, or apt∣nesse for pollicie.

Their great Voiauod or Generall at this present in their warres, is commonly one of these foure: Knez Feodor Iuanowich Methis∣soskey

Knez Iuan Michailowich Glinskoy, Che∣rechaskoy, and Trowbetskoy, all of great Nobi∣litie, but of very simple qualitie otherwise: though in Glinskoy (as they say) there is somewhat more then in the rest. To make vp this defect in the Voiauod or Generall,* 1.10 there is some other ioyned with him as Lief∣tenant Generall, of farre lesse nobilitie, but of more valure and experience in the warres then he, who ordereth all things that the o∣ther countenanceth. At this time their prin∣cipall man, and most vsed in their warres, is one Knez Demetrie Iuanowich Forestine, an auncient and expert captaine, and one that hath done great seruice (as they say) against the Tartar,* 1.11 and Polonian. Next vnder the Voi∣auod and his Lieftenant generall are foure o∣ther that haue the marshalling of the whole army deuided among them, and may be cal∣led the marshals of the field.

Euery man hath his quarter, or fourth part vnder him. Whereof the first is called the Praua Polskoy, or right wing. The second is the Leuoy Polskoy, or left wing. The third is Rusnoy Polskoy, or the broken bād▪ because out of this there are chosen to send abroade vpon any sodaine exploit, or to make a re∣scue▪* 1.12 or supply, as occasion doth require. The fourth Storeshouoy Polskoy, or the warding bande, Euery one of these foure Marshals

haue two other vnder them (eight in all) that twise euery weeke at the least must muster and traine their seueral wings or bands, and hold and giue iustice for all faultes, and dis∣orders committed in the campe.

And these eight are commonly chosen out of the 110. (which I spake of before) that receiue and deliuer the pay to the souldiers. Vnder these eight are diuers other Captains,* 1.13 as the Gul auoy, Captaines of thousands fiue hundreds and 100. The Petyde Setskoy or Captaines of fifties, and the Decetskies or Captaines of tennes.

Besides the Voiauoda or Generall of the Armie (spoken of before) they haue two other that beare the name of Voiauoda: whereof one is the Master of the great Ordi∣nance (called Naradna voiauoda) who hath di∣uers vnder Officers,* 1.14 necessarie for that ser∣uice. The other is called the Voiauoda gula∣uoy, or the walking Captaine,* 1.15 that hath a∣lowed him 1000. good horsemen of princi∣pall choyse, to range and spie abroad, and hath the charge of the running Castle, which we are to speake of in the Chapter folow∣ing. All these Captaines, and men of charge must once euery day resort to the Bulsha voiauoda or Generall of the Armie, to know his pleasure, & to informe him, if there be any requisite matter perteining to their office.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Souldiers by birth & inheritāce.
• * 1.2

  Degrees of horsemen.
• * 1.3

  1. Praetoriae∣nior such as attend the Emperours person, 15000.
• * 1.4

  Two other troupes to the number of 65000.
• * 1.5

  Horsemen in cōtinuall pay 80000.
• * 1.6

  Footmen in continu∣all pay 12000.
• * 1.7

  Strangers mercena∣ries in pay 4300.
• * 1.8

  The chiefe captaines or leaders.
• * 1.9

  1. The Voi∣auod or Ge∣nerall.
• * 1.10

  2. Liefete∣nant gene∣rall.
• * 1.11

  3. Marshals of the field foure.
• * 1.12

  Foure mar∣shals depu∣ties 8.
• * 1.13

  Fiue Coto∣nels vnder Captaines.
• * 1.14

  Sixe Ma∣sters of the Artillerie.
• * 1.15

  The wa∣king Cap∣taine.