96 FORESTRY IN LITHUANIA. 



' " Then came a change, as all things human change." 

 To the East arose the principality of Moscow not an 

 old, rich municipal republic, hut a young, vigorous State, 

 ruled by a line of crafty, energetic, ambitious, and un- 

 scrupulous princes, who were freeing the country from 

 the Tartar yoke and gradually annexing by fair means 

 and foul the neighbouring principalities to their own 

 dominions. At the same time, and in a similar manner, 

 the Lithuanian princes to the Westward united various 

 small principalities, and formed a powerful independent 

 State. Thus Novgorod found itself between two powerful 

 aggressive neighbours. Under a strong government it 

 might have held its own against these rivals, and success- 

 fully maintained its independence, but its strength was 

 already undermined by internal dissensions. Political 

 liberty had led to anarchy. Again and again on that 

 great open space where the national monument now 

 stands, and in the market-place on the other side of the 

 river, scenes of disorder and bloodshed took place, and 

 more than once on the bridge battles were fought by con- 

 tending factions. Sometimes it was a contest between 

 rival families, and sometimes a struggle between the 

 municipal aristocracy, who sought to monopolise the 

 political power, and the common people, who wished to 

 have a large share in the administration. A State thus 

 divided against itself could not long resist the aggressive 

 tendencies of powerful neighbours. Artful diplomacy 

 could but postpone the evil day, and it required no great 

 political foresight to predict that sooner or later Novgorod 

 must become Lithuanian or Muscovite. The great families 

 inclined to Lithuania, but the popular party and the 

 clergy looked to Moscow for assistance, and the Grand 

 Princes of Muscovy ultimately gained the prize.' 



There are indications in early legends and history that 

 the most absolute liberty was enjoyed, or let me rather 

 say, possessed by the Russian peasantry. Not only was 

 every man's house his castle, but every man was king in 



