rms, that is the small
nobility, defray their own expenses while serving, if their revenues
failed from lack of labor? Boris Godounof, therefore, made a law
forbidding peasants to go from one estate to another. They were tied
to the ground, and this was the first step to make serfs of them. The
peasants did object; they had been accustomed to change service on St.
George's day, and that day remained for many years one of deep sorrow.
There was no rebellion, but a great many fled, and joined the
Cossacks. After some years the law was changed so that peasants were
permitted to change from one _small_ estate to another.

Another change under Feodor's reign was the appointment of a Patriarch
as the head of the Greek Church under the czar. He was placed above
the several Metropolitans, and thus the Church secured more unity.

Feodor had no heirs, and his health was bad. It was, therefore, to
young Dmitri at Ouglitch that the great nobles looked for relief from
Godounof's tyranny. In 1591, this man sent hired assassins to Ouglitch
and the youngest son of Ivan was murdered. Some of the hirelings were
arrested by the people, and put to death. There was not even a doubt
as to the facts. But Godounof ordered an investigation by his own
friends; they declared that the young heir had committed suicide in a
fit of insanity, and that the people of Ouglitch had put innocent (p. 131)
men to death. The assassination of Dmitri's relatives, and the
depopulation of Ouglitch made further inquiry impossible.

Stephen Batory who had worsted Ivan the Terrible, died in 1586, and
the throne of Poland was once again vacant. Godounof tried hard to
have Feodor elected, but the Poles feared that the czar might attach
their kingdom to Moscow like a sleeve to a coat. Besides, the Roman
Catholic electors did not like the thought of having a king belonging
to the Greek Church; last of all, money counted in these elections,
and Godounof was a very saving man. The result was that the Prince of
Sweden was elected, and that war with Sweden broke out.

The Poles, fearing lest Sweden should grow too powerful, held aloof;
as a consequence, Russia gained back the towns which had been lost
under Ivan the Terrible. Godounof made an effort to bring about a war
between Poland and Sweden, but he only succeeded in arousing the
suspicion and dislike of both countries.

Feodor died in 1598; with him the house of Rurik, the old Norse
Viking, ceased to exist.

By