The book is devoted to the study of socio-political problems of the 17th century related to the history of the nobility. Based on the introduction of previously unknown documents into scientific circulation, the author comes to new conclusions regarding many issues in the history of the Russian nobility: the order and characteristics of the service, the evolution of the service "city," local salaries and salaries, reasons for evading service, replacing the service with a salary, land security, the struggle of the nobility for their rights, everyday life.