Of course, given the mood of society, it was difficult to expect a favorable turn for Shuisky - and he had to turn to outside help. Charles IX, personally hostile to Poland, had already offered him his assistance more than once; but the Moscow government not only did not express its consent to this, but was even offended by such proposals, declaring that in its state “there is no unrest,” and only thieves and robbers who have already been beaten are causing trouble. If enmity happens with any enemy, then “the Tsar’s Majesty has countless Russian and Tatar armies; the sovereign will not ask for help from anyone except God” (Swedish Affairs, in Solovyov, VIII, 220 - 223). But now Shuisky decided to send Skopin to Novgorod to conclude an alliance with Sweden. At the same time, he informed the emperor and the kings of England and Denmark about Sigismund’s treachery and asked for their protection (Nalitsyn, 67). Leaving for Novgorod, Skopin took with him his brother-in-law, Sem. Bass. Golovin. But while they were negotiating
KOPIN-SHUISKY.
With a new ally, there was already a stubborn siege of the Trinity Lavra by the Poles (Sayega and Lisovsky).
Skopin faced no easy task in the north. If Shuisky could count on the help of the Novgorodians, due to their historical connection with the Shuisky family (from the time of Grozny) and their dislike for the Pretender (his prisoners in Novgorod were drowned in Volkhov), then in Pskov and its suburbs there was a completely opposite mood. Soon after his accession to the throne, Shuisky asked for money in Pskov and they sent him 900 rubles; but the “big” people and rich guests found in this case a reason to destroy their opponents - the lesser people, writing to Moscow that the lesser ones were hostile to the tsar, and those sent with money were the main traitors. The latter were put in prison and only the Pskov archers, who were in Moscow, freed them from further disasters. This circumstance greatly outraged the people in Pskov, from where the hostile mood spread to the suburbs. Moreover, the Moscow governor in Pskov (Petr Sheremetev) and his clerk (I’ramotin) *) appropriated palace estates and oppressed the residents, setting up strong prisons that had never existed before. Meanwhile, an invitation came from Novgorod to unite with him and the Germans, who were soon to come to help against the Poles and the Pretender. The centuries-old struggle of Pskov with the Germans and the ancient rivalry with Novgorod have expressed themselves even now - in the refusal to contribute to the common cause; and 2 Sep. 1608, Pskov has already opened the gates to the Tushino governor, Fed. Pleshcheev, releasing more than 400 people held in prison and sending his detachment to Moscow. The hostile movement spread further: Ivangorod attacked the Pretender, and even Skopin was not allowed into Oreshka when he wanted to occupy the city (Ioln. collected Russian years. IV, Pskov. 1st years. 322 - 26; years. about the rebellion. 144). In Pskov, “big” people entered into relations with Novgorod, for which they were subjected to cruel torture and execution (Pskov. Let. 326). But, at the same time, the democratic movement from Pskov was communicated to Novgorod, where the mob was already preparing treason against Skopin, who, on the advice of the commander in Novgorod, Mikh. Ign. Tatishchev (the other was Prince.
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Andr. Kurakin), left there and, not being allowed into Oreshek, was in a critical situation, since, despite the negotiations that had begun with the Germans, he could not yet count on their help (Letter on the rebellions, 144, 147). With this in mind, it is understandable why Skopin tried to hide the real situation of Russia before the Swedish government, pointing only to the private unrest in it, supported by no more than 10,000 traitors and 6,000 Poles, and convincing the Swedish king to give help, since the success of the Pretender will force the Poles to turn all their forces to Sweden, with the aim of spreading Catholicism in it, which they were already working on Jesuits and the Pope (Iibekish), Niei. It's very dangerous. Leseppai. LGOSXXII, 46, 63).