b o o k Boris Godunof was defcended from a Tartar anceftor, who
. I1L .r-imp intnBnffia in 1 329» and, having embraced Chrifti-
anity, affumed the name of Zachary. From Simon Godun,
one of his defendants, the family was known by the fur-
name of Godunof, and became greatly diftinguifbed by the
elevation of the perfonage who is now under confideration.
Boris, fon of Feodorlvanovitch, a nobleman of the Ruffian
court, was born in 1 5 2 2 ; and in the 20th year of his age
was appointed, by Ivan Vaffilievitch II. to attend the perfon
of his fon prince I van: being fucceffively promoted to higher
offices, and obtaining additional influence by the marriage of
his fitter Irene with Feodor Ivanovitch, he was, upon that
monarch’s fucceffion to the throne, created privy counfellor,
mafter of the horfe, and invefted with the foie direction of
affairs. His authority was fo abfolute, that his reign may
be dated from the acceffion of Feodor ; he wanted only the
title of tzar, and all the aits of government muft be attributed
to him.
Upon the death of Feodor without iffue, the election fell
unanimoufly upon Boris Godunof, who owed his elevation
to the high opinion which all parties entertained of his capacity
and wifdom, to the influence of his After Irene, and to
the artful manner with which he affedted to decline, while
he was moft ambitious to poffefs, the crown. He deferved
his elevation by his confummate abilities and popular
manners ; and, for his political and civil deportment, he is
juftly ranked among the greateft ftatefmen of his age.
Happy would it have been for himfelf and his country, if
he had united moderation and humanity to thefe fplendid
qualities. His perfecution of feveral noble families, who
flood in the way of his ambitious defigns, and ftill more the
4 affaffi'
affaffination * of Demetrius, brands his character . with inde- c hyaj#p .
lible infamy. But while we allow and deteft in this in- > L»
ftance the full extent of his guilt, let not our horror at
this tranfadlion lead us to mifreprefent his moft laudable
actions. Let us not affert with his enemies, that in order
to turn thè attention of the people from the cataftrophe
of the prince, and to ingratiate himfelf in their favour by
an a<5t of public muniflcence, he purpofely fet Are to feveral
parts of Mofcow, that he might rebuild them at his own expence.
Nor let us, no lefs abfurdly, accule him of privately
inviting the khan of the Tartars to invade Ruffia,
that he might occupy the publick with a foreign war, and
acquire frefh glory by repelling the enemy.
We may add to the lift of his fuppofttitious crimes, that he
poifoned Feodor+, for the tzar had long laboured under a
declining ftate of health % ; and, the year before his death,
had requefted a phyflcian from England §. Even his paternal
attention and unbounded generoftty towards his fubjefts
during a famine, which, foon after his elevation to the throne,
defolated Mofcow, has been turned againft him ; for prejudice
has not been wanting to inflnuate, that, from an abfurd
delicacy, he would not permitforeignerstofupplytheRuffians
in their extreme diftrefs with corn; and that he joined feveral
* It is not here the place to inquire whe- “ that fhe itron-gly reproached her brother,
ther Demetrius was really aflaffinated, or “ Boris Godunof; with the murder o f her
whether he efcaped, for the ..crime of-Boris “ huiband, and- -would never fpeak to him
was the fame, whether his orders were car- “ afterwards.” Vol. X X X V . p. 273. For
ricd into execution, or divided. See the all authentick- hiftorians agree; that his ele-
next chapter. . . vation to the throne was-finally owing to
t I am at a lofr to know where the com- the poiitive recommendation o f His fifter the
piler of the article o f Ruffia, in the Uni ver- tzarina, whofe intere effion overcame his affai
Hiftory, obtained the foUowingaaecdote. fe&ed ref.ufal o f the crown.
“ Theodore died, after a reign o f twelve i Fletcher fays o f Feodór, that he was
“ years, not without fufpicion o f having inclining to .a dropfy.
“ been poifoned by his brother-in-law. , § As appears from a letter, in the Ruffian
“ The czarina feemed fo fenfible o f this, archives. -
A a a 2 banditti