History of the Russian State, Vol. 9

A.D. 1560 — 1561.

of conscience against rebellious passions: they saw only terrible deeds, and they call Ivan’s tyranny a foreign storm, as if sent from the depths of Hell to disturb and torment Russia. It began with the persecution of all those close to Adashev original: "(30)": they were deprived of property and exiled to distant places. The people pitied the innocent, cursing the flatterers, the Tsar's new advisors; but the Tsar grew angry and wished to quell such boldness with cruel measures. A noble woman named Maria original: "(31)", renowned in Moscow for her Christian virtues and friendship with Adashev, was accused of hating the Tsar and plotting to kill him through sorcery: she
First executions.

was executed along with her five sons; and soon many others were executed, accused of the same: the Okolnichy a high court rank Danila Adashev, brother of Alexey, famous for his military exploits, was executed with his twelve-year-old son original: "(32)"—as were the three Satins, whose sister was married to Alexey, and his relative, Ivan Shishkin, with his wife and children. Prince Dmitry Obolensky-Ovchinin, son of a Voivode military commander/governor who died a prisoner in Lithuania original: "(33)", perished for an imprudent word. Insulted by the arrogance of the Tsar's young favorite, Fyodor Basmanov, Prince Dmitry said to him: "We serve the Tsar with useful labors, and you with filthy, Sodomite homosexual acts!" Basmanov complained to Ivan, who, in a fit of rage at dinner, plunged a knife into the unfortunate Prince’s