Of the discipline of warre among the Russes.
WHENSOEVER the injures of their neighbours doe call
the King foorth to battell, hee never armeth a less
number against the enemie, then 300. thousand soldiers,
100. thousand whereof hee carieth out into the field with
him, and leaveth the rest in garison in some fit places,
for the better safetie of his Empire. He presseth no
husbandman, nor Marchant: for the Countrey is so
populous, that these being left at home, the youth of the
Realme is sufficient for all his wars. As many as goe
out to warfare doe provide all things of their owne cost:
they fight not on foote, but altogether on horsebacke:
their armour is a coate of maile, & a helmet: the coate
of maile wtout is gilded, or els adorned with silke,
although it pertaine to a common soldier: they have a
great pride in shewing their wealth: they use bowes, and
arrowes, as the Turks do: they cary lances also into the
field. They ride with a short stirrop, after the maner of
the Turks: They are a kinde of people most sparing in
diet, and most patient in extremitie of cold, above all
others. For when the ground is covered with snowe,
and is growen terrible and hard with the frost, this Russe
hangs up his mantle, or souldiers coate, against that part
from whence the winde and Snowe drives, and so making
a little fire, lieth downe with his backe towards the
weather: this mantle of his serves him for his bed, wall,
house and all: his drinke is colde water of the river,
mingled with oatemeale, and this is all his good cheere,
and he thinketh himselfe well, and daintily fedde therewith, and so sitteth downe by his fire, and upon the hard
ground, rosteth as it were his wearie sides thus daintily
stuffed: the hard ground is his feather bed, & some blocke
or stone his pillow: and as for his horse, he is as it
were a chamberfellow with his master, faring both alike.
How justly may this barbarous, and rude Russe
condemne
the daintinesse and nicenesse of our Captaines, who living
in a soile & aire much more temperate, yet commonly
use furred boots, and clokes? But thus much of the
furniture of their common souldiers. But those that are
of higher degrees come into the field a little better provided. As for the furniture of the Emperour himselfe,
it is then above all other times, most notable. The
coverings of his tent for the most part, are all of gold,
adorned with stones of great price, and with the curious
workemanship of plumasiers. As often as they are to
skirmish with the enemie, they goe forth without any
order at all: they make no wings, nor militarie divisions
of their men, as we doe, but lying for the most part, in
ambush, doe suddenly set upon the enemie. Their horses
can well abstaine two whole daies from any meate. They
feede upon the barkes of trees, and the most tender
branches, in all the time of warre. And this scant and
miserable maner of living, both the horse and his Master
can well endure, sometimes for the space of two moneths,
lustie, and in good state of body. If any man behave
himselfe valiantly in the fielde, to the contentation of the
Emperour, he bestoweth upon him in recompense of his
service, some farme, or so much ground as he and his
may live upon, which notwithstanding after his death,
returneth againe to the Emperour, if he die without a
male issue. For although his daughters be never so
many, yet no part of that inheritance comes to them,
except peradventure the Emperour of his goodnesse, give
some portion of the land amongst them, to bestowe them
withall. As for the man, whosoever he be, that is in
this sort rewarded by the Emperours liberalitie, hee is
bound in a great summe, to maintaine so many souldiers
for the warre, when need shall require, as that land, in
the opinion of the Emperour, is able to maintaine. And
all those, to whom any land fals by inheritance, are in
no better condition: for if they die without any male
issue, all their lands fall into the hands of the Emperour.
And moreover, if there be any rich man amongst them,
who in his owne person is unfit for the warres, and yet
hath such wealth, that thereby many Noble men and
warriours might be maintained, if any of the Courtiers
present his name to the Emperour, the unhappy man is
by and by sent for, and in that instant, deprived of all
his riches, which with great paines and travell all his
life time he had gotten together: except perhaps some
small portion thereof be left him, to maintaine his wife,
children and familie. But all this is done of all the people
so willingly at the Emperours commandement, that a
man would thinke, they rather make restitution of other
mens goods, then give that which is their owne to other
men. Nowe the Emperour having taken these goods
into his hands, bestoweth them among his Courtiers,
according to their deserts: and oftener that a man is
sent to the warres, the more the favour he thinketh is
borne to him by the Emperour, although he goe upon his
owne charge, as I said before. So great is the obedience
of all men generally to their Prince.
