OF THE DISCIPLINE OF WAR AMONGST THE RUSSIANS.


Whensoever the injuries of their neighbours do call the king forth
to battle, he never armeth a less number against the enemy than
three hundred thousand soldiers, one hundred thousand whereof he
carrieth into the field with him, and leaveth the rest in garrison
in some fit places for the better safety of his empire. He presseth
no husbandmen nor merchant; for the country is so populous that
these being left at home the youth of the realm is sufficient for
all his wars. As many as go out to warfare do provide all things of
their own cost; they fight not on foot, but altogether on horseback:
their armour is a coat of mail, and a helmet; the coat of mail
without is gilded, or else adorned with silk, although it pertain to
a common soldier; they have a great pride in showing their wealth;
they use bows and arrows as the Turks do; they carry lances also
into the field. They ride with a short stirrup after the manner of
the Turks; they are a kind of people most sparing in diet, and most
patient in extremity of cold above all others. For when the ground
is covered with snow, and is grown terrible and hard with the frost,
this Russian hangs up his mantle or soldier's coat against that part
from whence the wind and snow drives, and so making a little fire,
lieth down with his back towards the weather; this mantle of his
serves him for his bed, wall, house and all; his drink is the cold
water of the river, mingled with oatmeal, and this is all his good
cheer, and he thinketh himself well and daintily fed therewith, and
so sitteth down by his fire, and upon the hard ground, roasteth, as
it were, his weary sides thus daintily stuffed; the hard ground is