Here is one of the most important cases of Russian history: the wise John III had to attach the Novgorod region to his power for the glory and strength of the fatherland: praise be to him! However, the Novgorodians fought for their ancient charters and rights, given to them in part by the very great princes, for example, Yaroslav, the affirmative of their liberties. They acted recklessly: they should have foreseen that the resistance would turn into the death of Novgorod, and prudence demanded a voluntary sacrifice from them ...

The sound of the veche bell called all citizens to the Great Square. Posadniks with gold medals on their chests, thousands with high rods, boyars with banners, and elders of all five ends of Novgorod with silver axes have already gathered against the ancient house of Yaroslavov. But no one is still visible on the frontal or Vadimov place, where the marble image of this knight towered. The people, with their cries, drown out the sound of the bells and demands the opening of the eternity. Delinsky, an eminent city dweller, ascends the iron steps, humbly bows to the people and says that the prince of Moscow sent a boyar who will publicly announce John’s demands. This is Prince Kholmsky, the right hand of John in military enterprises, his eye in state affairs.

“Citizens of Novgorod! He broadcasts. - The Prince of Moscow and All Russia speaks with you - heed! Wild peoples love independence, wise peoples love order, and there is no order without autocratic power.

Citizens of Novgorod! Within your walls, the autocracy of the Russian land was born, established, and glorified. Here, the magnanimous Rurik did the court and the truth, under the sovereign hand of the Varangian hero, the Novgorodians became the horror and envy of other nations ...

The posterity is ungrateful! Listen to fair reproaches! Novgorodians, being always the eldest sons of Russia, suddenly separated from their brethren. And at what times ?! Like clouds of insects, countless barbarians appeared, aliens from countries unknown to anyone. The brave Slavs fight and perish, the Russian land is stained with the blood of Russians, the cities and villages burn, the chains rattle on virgins and elders. What are the Novgorodians doing! How could an ancient Slavic tribe forget their blood? .. Self-interest, self-interest blinded you! Russians are dying, Novgorodians are getting richer. The corpses of Christian knights killed by infidels are brought to Moscow, Kiev, and Vladimir; people meet them with weeping and crying; Novgorod is pleased with foreign guests and foreign goods! Russians consider ulcers, Novgorodians consider gold coins. Oh shame! The descendants of the Slavs appreciate the rights of the rulers in gold! But the rulers, accustomed to the benefits of trade, trade and the good of the people! The Prince of Moscow is known for their friendly secret ties with Lithuania and Poland. And soon from the frontal place the arrogant Pole will tell you: “You are my slaves!”.

People and citizens! The Prince of Moscow, realizing that the division of the state was the cause of his troubles, united all the principalities under his power and did not stop until he crushed the foreign yoke. Is such a sovereign not glorious to obey? Or - listen to his last word! - a brave army, ready to crush the Tatars, will appear to your eyes and pacify the rebels! .. Peace or war? Respond! ”

Boyarin Ioannov put on his helmet and left the frontal place. In the ensuing silence, exclamations suddenly rang out: “Martha! Martha! ” Quietly and majestically, she ascends the iron steps, examines the countless assembly of citizens and is silent. Sorrow and greatness on her face. But then the fire of inspiration flashed in her woeful look: “My wife dares to speak at the veche, but I was born in a military camp; my father and spouse died fighting for Novgorod. Here is my right to be a defender of liberties! It was bought at the cost of my happiness ... ".

"Speak, glorious daughter of Novgorod!" - exclaimed the people unanimously. “Prince of Moscow,” Martha said, “rebukes you, Novgorod, with your very well-being. And it is true that Novgorod is in bloom. Returning to their country, foreign merchants say: "We saw Novgorod, and we did not see anything like it!"

So we are happy - and guilty. Of course, Russia is in poverty - its land is stained with blood, scales and hail deserted <...> We are guilty of daring not to participate in the feuds of princes, daring to save the Russian name, not to accept the Tatar fetters. The fierce Batu rushed to tear to pieces Novgorod, but our fathers sharpened their swords without timidity, for they knew that they would die, and not be slaves!

John wants to command a great city: no wonder! He saw with his own eyes his fame and fortune. May John be great, but may Novgorod be great! May the Prince of Moscow be famous for the extermination of the enemies of Christianity, and not for the friends and brothers of the Russian land! When he crushes the enemy, we will tell him: “John! You returned the land of Russian honor and freedom, which we never lost. "

Novgorodians! Heaven is righteous and slaves only evil nations. But if John speaks the truth and the vile greed has taken possession of our souls, if we love treasures and bliss more than virtue and glory, then the last hour of our freemen will soon strike. And with the loss of freedom, the very source of wealth will also dry up. Your glory will fade, the city is great, and a curious wanderer, looking around the sad ruins, will say with sorrowful thought: “Novgorod was here!”

A terrible cry from the people prevented the girl from saying: “No! No! We will all die for the fatherland! War, war to John! ”

The Moscow ambassador wants to speak more, requires attention. In vain. Then he draws the sword and, raising his voice, with emotional sorrow says: "Let there be war!"

The ambassador is leaving, a terrible alarm has rung out in all parts of the city as a sign of declaration of war, and Martha hurried to her grandfather, the pious Theodosius. For seventy years he served the fatherland as a sword, and then retired from the world to the density of a dense forest.

The old man listens to Martha, he foresees disasters. “In order not to incriminate himself in the future,” Martha protests fervently, “one must act prudently in the present, choose the best and calmly wait for the consequences ...”

Martha brought a young hero Miroslav with her. She decides to entrust the army to a brave youth. “He is an orphan in the world, and God loves the orphans!” The Hermit blesses the young man to fight. The next morning, Martha’s eloquence convinces the veche, and Miroslav is approved by the leader.

Anticipating the tragic turn of events, the posadnik gives her daughter Ksenia to Miroslav, the bishop himself makes a wedding in St. Sophia Cathedral. For the first time in many years, the Boretsky house was visited by joy. Moved, Martha tells the newlyweds how gentle and gentle wife she was, believing all her happiness in the family. Not at all like the current posadnik. What changed her? Love! After the death of her husband, who "lived and breathed homeland," she could no longer remain an indifferent witness to the events. Before the death, her husband took an oath from her to be the defender of the Novgorod liberties.

The next day, Novgorod not only prepared for the battle, but also managed to celebrate the wedding. Boretsky treated the people. “To this day, the Novgorodians were one family, and Martha was his mother.”

A messenger arrives - Pskov refused to support the Novgorodians. Abandoned by the Allies, Novgorod is arming itself even more zealously. The news came that John was already in a hurry to the great hail with a select army. The Novgorod regiments lined up and came forward to meet him. Martha admonishes the army.

Silence settled in the great city, only the churches were opened from morning to midnight, the priests did not take off their robes, the candles did not die out before the images, everyone knelt, the prayer song did not stop.

The day of decisive battle came, and for a long time no news came. Finally a cloud of dust seemed. From a high frontal place, Martha watches him and does not say a word. Then suddenly, closing his eyes, he says loudly: “Miroslav is killed! John is the winner! ”

On the chariot, covered with banners, they bring the body of Miroslav. Wounded warriors tell of a cruel section. Experienced warriors admit that they did not see such bloodshed: “The Russian chest was against the Russian chest, and the knights on both sides wanted to prove that they were Slavs. The mutual anger of the brethren is the worst! ”

“Have my sons been killed?” Asked Martha impatiently. “Both,” she answered. “Praise be to the sky! Said the posadnik. “Maybe the citizens regret that they didn’t fall on their knees before John? .. Let my enemies say, and if they prove that love of freedom is a crime for a citizen of a free country, I gladly lay my head on the block . Send her to John and boldly demand his mercy! ” - "No no! - exclaims the people in lively zeal. “We want to die with you.” And again, hot battles begin to boil. Having not defeated the Novgorodians in open battle, John proceeds to a long siege. Cut off from the granaries, Novgorod is in need, hunger sets in. The voices of the opponents of Martha are more audible. Finally, in a desperate battle, the last defenders of liberty perish. Elder Theodosius, having left the prayer gate at the time of trouble and again chosen as a posadnik, hands John the keys to the city.

The Prince of Moscow enters the city, he forgives everyone, to reconcile the parties he needs only one sacrifice. The proud Martha ascends to the scaffold and addresses the people with the last word: “Citizens of John! “She exclaims.” “I am dying a citizen of Novgorod! ..”

The veche bell is removed from the ancient tower and taken to Moscow.