At midnight the khan, and the whole host, conscious of their peril, commenced a precipitate retreat, in their haste abandoning many guns and much of their baggage.  The Russians pursued the foe, but were not able to overtake them, so rapidly did they retrace their steps.

The news of the expulsion of the enemy spread rapidly through Russia.  The conduct of the grand prince everywhere excited the most lively enthusiasm.  He entered the church, and in an affecting prayer returned thanks to God for the deliverance.  The people, with unanimity, exclaimed,

     “Grand prince, your angelic prayers and your happy star have
     caused us to triumph.”

Awful, however, were the woes which fell upon those people who were on the line of march of the barbaric Tartars.

Ivan Belsky, the regent, had now attained the highest degree of good fortune, and in his own conscience, and in the general approbation of the people, he found ample recompense for his deeds of humanity, and his patriotic exertions.  But envy, that poison of society, raised up against him enemies.  Ivan Schouisky, who had been deposed by vote of the council, organized a conspiracy among the disaffected nobles, and on the night of the 3d of January, 1542, three hundred cavaliers surrounded the residences of the regent and of the metropolitan bishop, seized them and hurried them to prison, and in the prison finished their work by the assassination of Ivan Belsky.

Ivan Schouisky, sustained by the sabers of his partisans, reassumed the government.  A new metropolitan bishop, Macaire was appointed to take the place of Joseph, who was deposed and imprisoned.  The clergy, overawed, were silent.  The reign of silence was again commenced, and all the posts of honor and influence were placed in the hands of the partisans of Schouisky.  The government, such as it was, was now in the hands of a triumvirate consisting of Ivan, Andre and Feodor.  Not a syllable of opposition would these men endure, and the dungeon and the assassin’s poignard silenced all murmurs.  The young prince, Ivan IV., was now thirteen years of age.  He was endowed by nature with a mind of extraordinary sagacity and force, but his education had been entirely neglected, and the scenes of perfidy and violence he was continually witnessing were developing, a character which menaced Russia with many woes.

The infamous Schiouskies sought to secure the friendship of the young prince by ministering, in every possible way, to his pleasures.  They led him to the chase, encouraged whatever disposition he chanced to manifest, and endeavored to train him in a state of feebleness and ignorance which might promote their ambitious plans.  The Kremlin became the scene of constant intrigues.  Cabal succeeded cabal.  The position of the triumvirate became, month after month, more perilous.  The young prince gave decisive indications of discontent.  It began to be whispered into his ears that it was time for him to assume the reins of government, and he was assured that all Russia was waiting, eager to obey his orders.  The metropolitan bishop, either from a sense of justice or of policy, also espoused the cause of the youthful sovereign.  It was evident that another party was rising into power.