History of the Russian State, Vol. 9

A.D. 1560 — 1561.

This was the case until the spring of 1560.

At this time, the Sovereign's coldness toward Adashev and Sylvester became so clearly evident that they saw the necessity of withdrawing from the Court. The former, having until then held the most important place in the Duma and always being employed in negotiations with European powers, wished to continue serving the Tsar in a different capacity; he accepted the rank of Voivode and went to Livonia (8). Sylvester, having given the Sovereign his blessing from a pure heart, shut himself away in a remote monastery (9). Their friends were left orphaned, and their enemies triumphed. They praised the wisdom of the Tsar and said: "Now you are truly an Autocrat sovereign ruler, the anointed of God; you alone govern the land; you have opened your eyes and see freely over the entire Kingdom (10)!" But the cast-off favorites still seemed dangerous to them. Despite the well-known royal disfavor, Adashev was honored in the army; the very citizens of Livonia expressed exceptional respect for him. Everything bowed to his intellect and virtue (11). No less did Sylvester, now a humble monk, shine with Christian virtues in the wilderness; the monks looked with amazement at his example of piety, love, and meekness. The Tsar could have learned of this and repented, or returned the exiles. It was necessary to finish the blow and make the Sovereign so unjust, so guilty against these men, that he would no longer be able to even think of a sincere peace with them. The passing of the Tsaritsa provided the occasion for this.