History of the Russian State, Vol. 9

A.D. 1560 - 1561.

give in to his human weakness. Such sincerity seemed to him like an unseemly rudeness, offensive to a Monarch. For example, Adashev and Sylvester did not approve of the Livonian War, asserting that one must first of all eradicate the infidels, the evil enemies of Russia and Christ; that although the Livonians were not of the Greek Confession religious denomination, they were nonetheless Christians and posed no danger to us; that God blesses only wars that are just and necessary for the integrity and freedom of States (4). The court was filled with people devoted to these two favorites; however, the brothers of Anastasia did not like them, as did many common envious people who could not tolerate anyone above themselves. The latter did not slumber; they guessed the inclination of Ivan's heart and suggested to him that Sylvester and Adashev were cunning hypocrites: while preaching Heavenly virtue, they sought worldly benefits; they stood high before the throne and did not allow the people to see the Tsar, desiring to appropriate the successes and glory of his reign for themselves, and at the same time, they hindered these successes by advising the Sovereign to be moderate in his fortune: for they inwardly feared such success, thinking that an excess of glory might give him a rightful sense of greatness, which was dangerous for their own love of power (5). They said:

"Who are these people, daring to prescribe laws to a great and wise Tsar, not only in state affairs, but even in domestic—