The Principal Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques, and Discoveries of the English Nation, vol 3 | Page 4

Constantine. Basilius reigned after his fathers death. This man
disinheriting his sonne whiche was called after his owne name; because
he suspected his mother of adulterie, at his death surrendred his
Dukedome vnto his brother George, who kept his nephewe a long time
in prison. Howbeit at his death, though himselfe had two sonnes
namely Andrew and Demetrius, yet being stricken perhaps with
remorse of conscience, he bestowed the Dukedome vpon his nephew
Basilius. Against whom his two cousins bearing a grudge waged warre,
and at length hauing taken him by a wyly stratageme they put out his
eyes. Notwithstanding the Boiarens (for so the Moscouites call their
nobles) continued their duetifull alleageance vnto this their blinde Duke,
whom for his blindnes they called Cziemnox, that is to, say, darke or
darkened. He left a sonne behind him called Iuan Vasilowich who
brought the Russian common wealth, being before his time but obscure,
vnto great excellencie and renowme. Who that he might the better get
all the superiority into his owne hands put to death so many sonnes and
nephewes of the former Dukes as he could lay hold on, and began to
take vpon him the title of the great Duke of Vvlodimiria, Moscouia,

and Nouogardia, and to cail himself the Monarch or Czar of all Russia.
He brought vnder his subiection two principall cities, namely Plesco
being the only walled citie in all Moscouie, and Mouogrod
[Transcriber's note: sic.], both of them being in regard of traffike most
riche and flourishing cities, and hauing bin subiect vnto the Lithuanians
for the space of 50. yeeres before. The treasure of Nouogrod was so
exceeding, that the great Duke is reported to haue carried home from
thence 300. carts laden with gold and siluer.
He also was the first man that waged warre against the Polonians and
the Liuonians: against Polonia he pretended a quarell alleaging that his
daughter Helena (whome hee had married vnto Alexander the great
Duke of Lithuania, which was afterward king of Polonia) was euil
intreated, and was withdrawen from the Greekish religion vnto the
ceremonies of the Church of Rome. But against the Liuonians for none
other cause, but onely for an incredible desire of enlarging his
dominions. Howbeit what impulsiue causes of litle or no moment
happened in the mean season, we will in another place more plainely
declare. Notwithstanding he was very often and in diuers battels
vanquished by Plettebergius the great master of the Dutch knights: but
it is not to the purpose to stand any longer vpon this discourse.
He was married first vnto Marie the Duke of Tyuersky his daughter,
and of her hee begate Iohn, vnto whom in his life time he surrendred
his Dukedome, and married him vnto the daughter of Stephan the
Palatine of Moldauia: which Iohn, after he had begotten his sonne
Demetrius, deceased before his father.
Afterward Iuan Vasilowich aforesaide married a wife called Sophia
being daughter vnto Thomas Palælogus, which is reported to haue had
her dowry out of the Popes treasury, because the Moscouite had
promised to conforme himselfe vnto the Romish Church. This Sophia
being a woman of a princely and aspiring minde, and often
complaining that she was married vnto the Tartars vassal, at length by
her instant intreatie and continual perswasions, and by a notable
stratageme she cast off that slauish yoke very much vnbeseeming so
mighty a prince. For whereas the Tartarian Duke had his procuratours
and agents in the Moscouites court, who dwelt in their owne houses
built within the very castle of Mosco, and were eye witnesses of all
affaires which were there performed: Sophia said she was admonished

from heauen to builde a Temple in the selfe same place where the
Tartars house stoode, and to consecrate it vnto Saint Nicholas. Being
therfore deliuered of a sonne she inuited the Tartarian Duke vnto the
solemne baptizing of him, and beeing come, shee requested him to giue
her his house, and obtained it at his hands. Which house being razed
and those Tartarians espials beeing excluded, the Tartars at length were
quite bereaued and vtterly dispossessed of their authoritie which they
had exercised ouer the Russians for many yeres, and could neuer yet
recouer it; albeit they haue giuen sundry attempts. Of his wife Sophia
he begate sixe children, namely, a daughter called Helena, and fiue
sonnes, that is to say, Gabriel, Demetrius, George, Simeon, and
Andrew.
The Dukedome of right appertayned vnto Demetrius the sonne of Iohn,
which was the sonne of Vasilowich by his first marriage. Howbeit
Sophia preuailed so with her husband, that neglecting his graund-childe
Demetrius, hee bestowed his Dukedome vpon Gabriel his sonne.
Andrew the younger had a sonne called Vvlodmir, of whom Mary was
borne, which in the yeere of Christ 1573, was