A question about a document on the Razin Rebellion...

[quem98.livejournal.com]

I'm reading a document written by two Chuvash leaders (I think) who are writing to the Tsar to ask for help since Razin and his retinue have lay siege to the city and have taken to pillaging, setting things on fire and all that fun stuff. But I have come across two sentances that I can't make sense of. It's written in old Russian, and modern Russian is challenging enough.

А женишка наши и детишка они, воры, Цивильского уезду чуваша Алгильдка с товарищи, с ворами, держат у них. И выехать нам, сиротам твоим, от них, воров, из города никуда не сметь, и терпим мы, сироти твои, в Цивильску в осаде нужу большую.

I understand that сироты твои is just an adress to the tsar, something to the effect of "your humble servants"
Also Вор means criminal and not just theif.

As far as I understand, these criminals (rebels, whatever) are holding the women and children hostage? And there is no where for them to run and now they are waiting out the siege, but are in dire straits (in great need). Am I reading that right? Am I missing anything? The grammar is wierd especially that first sentence..

Any help would be very much appreciated.

Comments

[hope1972.livejournal.com]

Yeah, the first sentence weird big way :) But it`s archaic Russian. You seen to understand it right.

[yms.livejournal.com]

сироты твои is just an adress to the tsar, something to the effect of "your humble servants"

not only "humble", but "unfortunate"... it's a way to cause pity: "look, our father tsar, in what miserable position we are"...

[night-sun-dial.livejournal.com]

"Бандитская группировка под предводительством некого Алгильды (чувашской национальности), созданная из жителей Цивильского уезда, удерживает в качестве заложников наших жён и детей. По этой причине мы, оставленные без защиты добропорядочные граждане, не можем покинуть город Цивильск, в котором ощущается большая нехватка продуктов первой необходимости."
A newspaper... :)

[friendlic.livejournal.com]

я плакалъ :))

[ars-longa.livejournal.com]

Вор was a name for a "political criminal" at these times. Later it was transposed to "thief", but in Razin's times it meant "someone who's doing something harmful to the state or society".

[dyrbaglyz.livejournal.com]

Concerning the grammar - I guess that could be already adapted text :)
Cирота literally means "orphan" (now), at that time it was quite often used to stress the suffering and need for somebody (here - tsar's support).
Also at that time word Вор meant exactly "a rebel", compare with Тушинский Вор (a.k.a Лжедмитрий II), for example.