DUKE OF MOSCOVY'S GENEALOGY a.d. 



1576. 



But by what wayes and meanes (after the league which 

 by the intercession of the most sacred Roman Emperour, 

 continued from the yeere 1503. for the space of fifty 

 yeeres, was expired) having renewed warres against Li- 

 vonia, hee brought that most flourishing province into 

 extreame miserie, using for the same purpose a new pre- 

 tense, and alleadging that it belonged unto him by right 

 of inheritance, I tremble to recount : and it requireth a 

 large historie, which perhaps in time and place convenient 

 some more learned then my selfe will take upon them to 

 addresse. 



He is exceedingly addicted unto piety and devotion, 

 and doth oftentimes observe very strict fastings and 

 abstinence with his monks : and wheras the Russes in 

 doing reverence & adoration unto God doe beate their 

 foreheads against the ground, this Ivan Vasilowich with 

 performing of the same ceremonie causeth his forehead to 

 be ful of boines and swellings, and sometimes to be black 

 and blew, and very often to bleed. He is much delighted 

 with building of Churches & spareth no cost for that 

 purpose. Whether therfore by nature, or (which hee 

 pretendeth to be the cause) by reason of his subjects 

 malice & treacherie, he be so addicted unto all rigour and 

 cruelty, I dare not determine, especially sithens he hath 

 not an illiberal or mishapen countenance, as Attila is 

 reported to have had. Of his first wife which was sister 

 unto Mikita Romanowich, beeing nowe great steward of 

 his houshold, he begate two sonnes, namely Ivan and 

 Theodore. And albeit he was five times married, yet had Theodore. 

 he not one childe more. 



Whereas this Ivan Vasilowich upon certaine frivolous 

 reasons calleth himselfe the naturall lord of Livonia, I 

 thought it not amisse to adde an Epistle hereunto, which 

 was written by a certaine honourable man concerning the 

 same matter. 



S. All wee which inhabite this Province with all seemely 

 reverence and submission of mind, do offer most 

 humble thanks unto the Emperors most sacred and peere- 



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