A.D. 



1558. 



" Or.Basi/ius. 



THE ENGLISH VOYAGES 



The maners, usages, and ceremonies of the 



Russes. 



Of the Emperour. 



He Emperours name in their tongue is 

 Ivan Vasilivich, that is as much to say, 

 as John the sonne of " Vasilie and by his 

 princely state hee is called Otesara, as his 

 predecessors have bene before, which to 

 interprete, is a king, that giveth not 

 tribute to any man. And this word 

 Otesara his majesties interpreters have of late dayes 

 interpreted to be Emperour, so that now hee is called 

 Emperour and great Duke of all Russia, &c. Before 

 his father they were neither called Emperours nor kings 

 but onely Ruese Velike, that is to say, great Duke. 

 And as this Emperor which now is Ivan Vasilivich, 

 doeth exceede his predecessors in name, that is, from a 

 Duke to an Emperour, even so much by report he doeth 

 exceede them in stoutnesse of courage and valiantnesse, 

 and a great deale more : for he is no more afraid of his 

 enemies which are not few, then the Hobbie of the 

 larks. 



His enemies with whom he hath warres for the most 

 part are these : Litto, Poland, Sweden, Denmarke, 

 Lifland, the Crimmes, Nagaians, and the whole nation 

 of the Tartarians, which are a stoute and a hardie people 

 as any under the Sunne. 



This Emperour useth great familiaritie, as wel unto 

 all his nobles and subjects, as also unto strangers which 

 serve 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 beloved of his nobles and commons, but also 

 had in great dread and feare through all his dominions, 



438 



