Page:Notes upon Russia (volume 2, 1851).djvu/43

tomed to place garrisons every year in this spot, against the incursions of the Tartars.

Worotin is a city and fort, bearing the same name as its principality. It lies three miles above Coluga, not far from the bank of the Occa. The principality was formerly possessed by the Knes Ivan Worotinski, a warlike man, and excelling in various accomplishments, through whose generalship the Prince Vasiley had often won distinguished victories over his enemies. In the year 1521, however, when the King of Taurida crossed the Occa, and, as has been already said, invaded Russia with a large army, the Knes Dimitry Bielski, a young man, was sent with an army by the prince to check and repel him; but he, neglecting the wise counsels of Worotinski and others, disgracefully took to flight at the first sight of the enemy. After the departure of the Tartars, the prince made diligent inquiries respecting the authors of the flight, but acquitted Andrew, the prince's own brother (who really had been the cause of it), and others; while Ivan Worotinski not only fell under the prince's severest displeasure, but was seized and driven out of his principality. He was, it is true, finally discharged from custody, but only on the condition that he should never leave Moscow. I have myself seen him at Moscow among the principal men at the prince's court.

Sewera is a great principality, whose citadel, Novogrodek, not long since was the seat of the Sewerian princes, before they were ejected from the principality by Vasiley. It lies a hundred and fifty German miles due south from Moscow, the road passing through Coluga, Worotin, Serensko, and Branski; and the principality extends as far as the Dnieper. It contains some vast deserts, with fields interspersed here and there; there is, however, a large wood in the neighbourhood of Branski. It contains many forts and towns; the most celebrated of which are Staradub, Potivlo, and Czernigov. The land is fertile wherever it is cultivated.