r love for his near relatives, as one of his
first acts was to put his nephew Dmitri in prison, where he died. One
of his brothers who did not like his manners, tried to escape, but was
brought back and severely punished.

The republic of Pskof, and the dukedoms of Riazan and
Novgorod-Seversky were still enjoying some degree of liberty, which
Vassili did not approve. At Pskof, the grand duke was represented by
_a namiestnik_, or ducal delegate; the people, citizens and peasants,
nobles and lower classes, quarreled constantly among themselves, but
united to quarrel with the delegate. Vassili determined to put an end
to this. He came to Novgorod to hold court, and summoned the
magistrates of Pskof to appear before him, and when they arrived he
ordered their arrest. A merchant of Pskof heard of it and, hurrying
home, told the people. Immediately the bell was rung to convoke the
vetche, and the masses called for war with Moscow. More prudent
counsels prevailed when messengers arrived from the prisoners,
imploring their friends not to try a useless resistance and to avoid
the shedding of blood. A leading citizen was sent to Vassili to (p. 107)
offer him submission; he was dismissed with the answer that one of the
_diaks_ or secretaries would come to Pskof to let the people know the
terms. When that officer arrived, he was admitted in the vetche, where
he informed his hearers that Vassili imposed two conditions, namely,
that Pskof and the towns subject to it must receive his delegates, and
that the vetche must be abolished and the great bell, used to convoke
it, must be taken down. Twenty-four hours were asked to deliberate.
Before the time expired, the vetche met for the last time, when the
first magistrate addressed the delegate. "It is written in our
chronicles," he said, "that our ancestors took oaths to the grand
duke. The people of Pskof swore never to rebel against our lord who is
at Moscow, nor to ally themselves with Lithuania, with Poland, nor
with the Germans, otherwise the wrath of God would be upon them,
bringing with it famine, fires, floods, and the invasion of the
infidels. If the grand duke, on his part, did not observe his vow, he
dared the same consequences. Now our town and our bell are in the
power of God and the duke. As for us, we have kept our oath." The
great bell was taken to Novgorod, and Vassili visited "his patrimony."
Three hundred wealthy families were transported to other cities and
replace