Moscow (Russia) -- Description and travel; Moscow (Russia) -- History
With the spoil brought from Novgorod was the "Great Bell of Novgorod"
which had so often called its burghers to assemble for the defence of
the town. Ivan was determined that the tocsin should never again be
heard over the fallen city. The bell he caused to be hanged in the
turret on the Kremlin wall near the Spasski Gate, where for long it was
used as the alarm bell of Moscow, but subsequently served as metal when
the great bell in Ivan Veliki was recast.
Shortly after his return from Novgorod he entered upon his fourth cycle
of massacres. The prisoners were executed in batches before the Spasski
Gate. Horsey was instrumental in getting the lives of many spared, and
they were settled in a suburb of Moscow where they lived at peace with
the citizens but were still subject to attacks from the öpritchniks.
Ivan found other traitors among the boyards and princes, for his
favourites of to-day were the victims of the morrow.
"On July 25, in the middle of the market-place, eighteen scaffolds
were erected, a number of instruments of torture were fixed in
position, a large stack of wood was lighted, and over it an
enormous cauldron of water was placed. Seeing these terrible
preparations, the people hurried away and hid themselves wherever
they could, abandoning their opened shops, their goods and their
money. Soon the place was void but for the band of öpritchniks
gathered round the gibbets, and the blazing fire. Then was heard
the sound of drums: the Tsar appeared on horseback, accompanied by
his dutiful son, the boyards, some princes, and quite a legion of
hangmen. Behind these came some hundreds of the condemned, many
like spectres; others torn, bleeding, and so feeble they scarce
could walk. Ivan halted near the scaffolds and looked around, then
at once commanded the öpritchniks to find where the people were and
drag them into the light of day. In his impatience he even himself
ran about here and there, calling the Muscovites to come forward
and see the spectacle he had prepared for them, promising all who
came safety and pardon. The inhabitants, fearing to disobey, crept
out of their hiding-places, and, trembling with fright, stood
round the scaffold. Some having climbed on to the walls, and even
showing themselves on the roofs, Ivan shouted: 'People, ye are
about to witness executions and a massacre, but these are traitors
whom I thus punish. Answer me: Is this just?' And on all sides the
people shouted approval. 'Long live our glorious King! Down with
traitors! Goiesi, Goida!'
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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