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A52872 A New and exact description of Moscovy (1.) containing its state antient and modern, situation, extent, latitude, division into provinces, rivers, soile, sterility, and fertility, with the commoditys, and observations on the extreamitys of weather hot and cold, (2.) of the citys and towns, fortification and manner of building ... (3.) of their religion, marriages, ... (4.) of the government ... (5.) their military affairs ... (6.) the revenues of the czar ... (7.) the succession of the royal house of Muscovy ... : the whole containing all that is necessary to be known concerning that vast empire. 1698 (1698) Wing N541; ESTC R38883 23,009 33

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prevent the Progress of that Raging Element as much as lies in them for the future preserving the Building The Churches and Houses of the Persons of Quality are Built with Stone and Brick some of the Principal Churches Cover'd with Guilt Copper or Tin and Adorn'd with many Large Globes of the same Mettal There is a Bell Raised on a Tower I conceive the Largest in the World for it is held to Weigh 176 Tun though it has been Clipped and some Tuns of Mettal taken from it to make it sound the better it is 24 Foot in height and the Clapper 21 Foot By pulling the Clapper and striking against the sides it is Rung on particular occasions The Form of this Great City is in a manner Round with Three Strong Walls Circling the one within the other the Streets lying between whereof the Inmost Inclosure in the Heart of the City is all accounted the CZAR or Great Duke's Castle and the River Accommodates it with a Sufficiency of Water store of Fish and other Provisions The Castle is Four-square Situate on a Hill Two Miles about with Brick-walls very high and a vast Thickness it has Sixteen Gates and as many Bulwarks The Chief Markets are kept here and on the River when it is Glaz'd with Ice this River encloses the Castle on the South-west-side and in it are Nine Fair Churches with Guilt Spires The next City of Note is Novograde but not so Stately as Moscow The Houses are Built with Timber Layed-in and Fasten'd with Dents or Notches and so fasten'd together holds well The Streets in stead of Paving are Planked with Firr and other Timber very neatly of which Providence has plentifully stor'd them so that a House may be Built for a very little matter as 20 or 30 Rubbles This City Boasts of the Fam'd Story of the Scythian Bondmen who Rebelling against their Masters and Seazing the City their Effects Wives c. in their Absence and Overthrowing them on their Return in a Bloody Battel were at length nevertheless Discomfited and brought under by their Masters coming upon them only with Horse-whips which put them in Mind of the Chain of Servitude they had so lately broken and consequently Terrifi'd them into Obedience and upon this Account they have a Coine bearing the Impression of a Horseman shaking a VVhip at a Flying Slave Currant all over Moscovy The other Citys of great note are Rostove Volodomar Smolensko Plesco Yaruslave Vologda Perislave Nisnovogrod Astracan Cargapolia Columna Vstiue Cazan Golmigreo and of these Astracan Yaruslave and Cazan have the precedency by reason of their convenient Situation on the borders so commodiously near the Volga Yaruslave exceeds the rest for besides the plenty of Pasture and Corn the Soile yeilds it has a great Trade by the River being plesantly Situated on a high Bank overlooking it and from its Situation it seems to take its Name for that in the Russ Language signifies a fair Bank though they boast it from Vlademira Surnamed Yaruslave who Marry'd the Daughter of Harold King of England by the Mediation of Sueno the Dane An. 1067. To these of Note I may add Vobsko and Smolen●ko which in some measure stand in competition with them Vologda is a pretty large City taking its Name from the River that passes through it It has a Castle in it walled with Brick and Stone and many Churches but mostly built of Wood and whereas there are two for a Parish one is so contriv'd that it may be heated with Stoves in the Winter it is a Town of much Trade though lying far from any Sea port There are many considerable Towns as Colmogro standing on the River Duyna which is a great Town though without Walls the Building is somewhat scattering and near the Bay of St. Nicholas so called from an Abby seated there when the English made a discovery of this Country stands Arch-Angel where they have a Factory and convenient Buildings which lyes in about 64 degrees North-Latitude and on the Banks of the River Duyna stands the Castle the English have likewise Lands hereabouts asign'd them and in this Cold part so pleasant is the Country when the Snow is cleared which it is doing 2 Months and then the Ground in 14 days is dry the Grass is soon knee deep and in an Island in St. Nicholas Bay 7 or 8 Miles in Circuit called Rose Island grow Damask and Red Rose Violets Wild Rosemary and other pleasant things so that to be brief I cannot but conceive this Country as to its many Wasts and Barren places has been Misrepresented and perhaps by some envious Neighbours because the English had the Honour and Advantage first to discover the North-East Passage by Sea which was done by one Chancelour an Englishman Anno. 1553 Sir Hugh Willoughby and others miscarrying in that tedious and painful Search but since it has been easiy and Practicable not only to us but other Nations The English above others have found Encouragement upon the account of their being the first discoverers for before the trade lay thorough Poland and other Hostil Territories But not to make any long digression I shall proceed in my intended Brevetie This Country considering its largeness is well Peopled where the huge Lakes and Desarts take not up the spaces and Woods render it Impracticable yet these are advantageous to them in afoarding store of Fish Fowl and wild Beasts that yeild the Natives great advantage their Flesh for Food and their Skins Feathers Tallow c. for Merchandise the Lakes are very large most of them Navigable but not very commodious to live near by reason of great Fogs and Damps that arise from them and as for Towns and Villages near the great Forrests and Woods the Inhabitants must be in some apprehension of danger from the great number of Wolves and Bears that Rove about for Prey which Ravenous Creatures pinch'd in the excessive rigour of Winter with cold and hunger contemning the fear of Dogs or Fire-Arms will come out in Troops and make a fearful havock among the People and their Cattle The Natives of this Country are very industrious and Patient of Hunger yeilding a profound Homage and Respect to their Prince paying their Taxes with a willing and chearful obedience and run readily to the Wars on the first command or summons where it is strange to see what hardship they will endure for when the ground is cover'd with Snow frozen very thick the common Soldier will lye in the Field without a Tent or covering over his head only he hangs up his Mantle against that part from whence the Weather drives and kindling a little Fire lyes down before it his Food Oatmeal or Pulse and his Drink the cold Stream his Horse feeding on green Wood and Bark and yet do the Service of the War or Travel as well as those that are Pamper'd in Stables with more convenient Provender tho the Horse has no other Covering than the Canopy of Heaven and those
A New and Exact DESCRIPTION OF MOSCOVY 1. Containing its State Antient and Modern Situation Extent Latitude Division into Provinces Rivers Soile Sterility and Fertility with the Commoditys and Observations on the Extreamitys of Weather Hot and Cold. 2. Of the Citys and Towns Fortification and manner of Building The first Discovery made by the English Populousness of the Country Wild Beasts and Disposition of the Natives 3. Of their Religion Marriages Obedience of the Wome● to their Husbands Divorce Burials and other Cerimonies Their Diet Liquors Stoves Hot-houses Habits c. 4. Of the Government of the Provinces and Shires their Courts of Justice holding Parliaments c. 5. Their Millitary Affairs Degrees and Order in it Arms Discipline with other matters 6. The Revenues of the CZAR Coins Weights Measurs Tradeing and of the Raritys of Moscovy 7. The Succession of the Royal House of Moscovy to the present CZAR being a Historical ●ccount of all the Material Transactions happening for 1600 years The manner of the CZAR's Coronation Arms of Moscovy and Degrees of the Nobility c. The whole containing all th●t is necessary to be known concerning that VAST EMPIRE LONDON Printed for R. Baldwin and Sold by mo●● Booksellers 1698. THE PREFACE Reader THe following Sheets will Accomodate you with the Pleasure of surveying the Fam'd and Spacious Dominions of the Renowned CZAR of Moscovy in which you may rightly Inform your self of all that is Rare or Admirable in that Northern Track which for many Ages has been the Theatre of great Actions and undergone divers notable Revolutions a Country every where spoken of by Travellers and a Trade or Commerce sought with it eagerly by distant Nations Here you have the State of things so Compact and Lively represented that these few Sheets cannot miss of their end in being exceeding Satisfactory because I may be bold to say I have not omitted whatever can be reasonably requir'd in such an undertaking even in the Minutest matters the Curious searchers after the Knowledge of Remote Regions are apt to pry into and thereby satiate their Curiosity with variety I shall not trouble you with my Reasons as many too formally do on the like occasions for this undertaking but rather leave you to your own Conjectures yet one thing I cannot pass over in silence which is that it may not prove only pleasant in Reading but very profitable and advantageous to such as Trade or may happen to Travel in so large a part of the World because it contains something of History as well as discription interweaving Antiquity with Modern speculation costing no small pains to produce so fair a birth when such slender accounts were to be had from those that have resided there to form it It is true many Splendid Embassyes have been sent and return'd in precedent Reigns The understanding Men of our Nation have Travell'd there and seen the face of that Earth Glaz'd with Snow in Winter and in Summer found it Fruitful to Admiration yet their enquiry has been but little into the State of Affairs or the Produce of divers kinds as not being sufficiently Sedulous to inform themselves and others But here you will find the curtain drawn and what lay long in obscurity presented by a larger Industry than what has before been undertaken and so banishing all Scruples that may arise to prejudice yours or my Expation in the Success of this Book I am Your Friend and Servant The Author A New and Exact DESCRIPTION OF Moscovy c. CHAP. I. Of Moscovy Antient and Modern Its Situation Extent Division into Provinces Rivers Soile Latitude Sterility and Fertility of the Fruits Corn and other Commodities it produces with Observations on the Extream Cold and Heat Incident to this spacious Country c. WE find by Experience that God in his Infinite Wisdom has Framed and Posited the Globe of Earth and Waters with the Dependant Elements so Admirable in every part that Man cannot but be surpriz'd with wonder when he considers the Harmony in all the spacious Mass and his Curiosity would be tired with a too tedious search into every particular Let it suffice then that Modern Discoveries have brought to light what former Ages knew little or were altogether Ignorant of I shall not insist on the American or New World so termed by many That but a few Ages past all Europe and I may with reason say the then two other Divisions of the Suppos'd Total Universe were strangers to for my business at present not lying that way I shall bend it on the vast Northern Track of Country antiently hinted at and now so well discover'd by the Name of Russia but more properly to follow the Modern Writers M●scovy as the far nobler and most accepted Name of that part of Earth producing great advantages to such as Trade with it and an Improvement of Knowledge to those that Travel its Spacious Limits The Famed Country of Muscovy or as some will have it Russia is bounded on the East with the River Ob or Oby and the Negayan Tartars on the West with Lithuania Livonia and Poand on the North with Lapland and the Ocean on the South with a part of Tartary called the Crimee It was formerly called Sarmatia and as most suppose changed its Name because it was divided into divers small but Absolute Governments to that of Russia for in their Language the Word signifies a Parting or Dividing VVhen this Country was called Sarmatia it was divided into Two Principal Parts the VVhite and Black The first of these contain'd all that lyeth towards the North and on the part of Liefland viz. as now the Provinces are nam'd Vagha Duyna Vologda Vstio Carga Polia Novogrodia and some others of lesser note As for the Black Sarmatia of the Antients It comprehended the Southern part toward the Euxine or Black Sea viz. The Dukedomes of Mosco Volodemar Rezan and some others Since this it has been enlarg'd by Addition and Conquest and is at present under a single Government notwithstanding all the Efforts the Tartars and other bordering Countrys have made to hinder the flourishing of it and to share the Frontires amongst them to which end they have made Cruel Wars and Inroads shedding much Blood Plundering Burning and committing many othet Outrages The Principal Provinces of Moscovy for so I must properly call it are Volodemar Moscow Plesco Nisnovogrod Smolensco Novogrod-velica or Novogrod of the Lower Country Moschora Rostove Ghaletsa Vstuga Vagha Cargapolia Yaruslave Bealo Zera Bezan and Duyna These with their Dependancies are very Large far exceeding our Shires in England and though they are termed the Natural Provinces there yet remain others gained by Enlarging their Borders viz. Twerra Youghoria Condora Permia Abdoria Vedska Boulghoria Cheringo Oudoria comprehending Siberia Cazan and Astracan with some others now Dependant on the Government of Moscovy So that this spacious Country from North to South Measur'd from Cola to Astracan which bends somewhat Eastward is in Length
Soldiers that bear hardship the best and deserve well by Memorable Exploits are rewarded sometimes with Money and at others with certain Lands Assigned them during Life which the CZAR of Moscovy always has in his Donation in one part or other of his Country for this purpose CHAP. III. Of their Religion Wooing Marriages The Moscovit Womens Obedience to their Husbands Divorce Burial of the Dead and other Ceremonies Their Feeding Diet Liquors Stoves Hot-houses Habits of Men and Women c. THeir Religion properly is that of the Greek Church differing in many things from the Roman and Reformed Churches their Service is in their own Language they Receive the Eucharist in both Kinds observe Four Lents and have Service Daily in their Churches They have many Monasteries Possess'd by Monks and Fryars which have considerable Revenues in Land and Houses belonging to them and likewise deal in Merchandise When two Friends meet in the Easter Holy Days they in a Solemn manner joyn Hands one of them thereupon saying The Lord is Risen Then the other Answers It is so of a Truth and then they Kiss They have a Metropolitan or Patriarch who is in High Estimation among them and Reverenc'd as the Pope among the Roman Catholicks they have a Veneration for our Lady St. Nicholas and other Saints Their manner of Wooing is but short for when they make Love the Man sends Presents to the Woman and she Accepting them the Match is soon Agreed but if they are return'd it is a sign she likes not the Party that makes the Proffer and among other Presents sometimes a Whip is sent to let the Woman know what she has to trust to if she be disobedient or break her Marriage Vows and for the generality they are so far from resenting it as an Affront that when Marry'd the Wife Loves her Husband the better if sometimes he Corrects her and concludes he Loves her not if he altogether declines it But this prov'd fatal once to an English Shoomaker who Marrying a Russ Woman and settling in that Country thinking to gain her Love to a high pitch this way upon being inform'd that her peevishness proceeded from the want of it he so Over-loaded her with his Kindness that she dyed for which he lost his own Life by the hand of an Executiooner The Women indeed are very Obedient to their Husbands and the better sort especially seldom stir abroad but on particular occasions And now as to their Marriages because the Ceremony is Novel to us I shall mention the most particular matters relating to it The Day being come the Bride puts on her Head a kind of a Hood made of fine Lawn or Knit-work that Veiles her to the Middle and so with her Friends and the Bridegroom with his they go to the Church on Horse-back though it be near at hand They Marry with a Ring and the words of Contract and Ceremony much agrees with ours The Ring put on and the Contract Pronounc'd the Brides hand is deliver'd into the hand of the Bridegroom standing this while on one side of the Altar or Table and the Bride on the other The Knot being thus Knit by the Priest she comes about with the Bridegroom to the end of the Table and falling down at his Feet knocks her head upon his Shoo in token of Subjection and Obedience then the Bridegroom casts the Lap of his Gown over her signifying his Duty to Protect and Cherish her Then the Brides Father and Friends Bow to the Bridegroom and his to the Bride in token of Love and Affinity between the Two Kindreds This done the Bridegroom's Father delivers the Priest a Loaf of Bread who presently returns it upon a Solemn Promise that the Dowry shall be deliver'd at the Day Appointed and that Friendship shall continue between one Kindred and another so the Bread is broken and they eat it amongst them to testifie their True and sincere Meaning for performing the Charge and Promise and thenceforth to become as Crums of one Loaf or Men of one Table They use Divorce among them and it is often practic'd on slender pretences For a Man may go to a Monastery and shave himself a Friar in a Pretended Devotion and Quit himself of his Wife and leave her to her Shifts Yet this is mostly among the Vulgar the Women of Quality are held in more Esteem yet without distinction they are very obedient and pay a profound Respect to their Husbands As for the Burials of their Dead it is done with much Ceremony They put them on New Shooes and put a Letter in their Hands Directed to St. Nicholas intimating the Party to be a Russ-Man or Woman dying in the True Faith when the Ground is Frozen that no Spade can enter it they lay up their Dead in Houses which they call God's Houses and when the Ground is practicable they bury them in their Cloaths causing Prayers to be said over them and beside the Relations there are other Women Mourners who are employ'd to that purpose They have Great Veneration for the Cross Images and Holy Water once a year the Rivers are Hollow'd with much Ceremony by the Bishops and then there is Great Strugling among the People for the Water and some leap into it though in a bitter Season and Women Dip their Tender Infants concluding there is now a Great Vertue in it and often it is Given to the Sick in order to recover them or cleanse them They keep many Vigils and other days set apart and are very Zealous in their way of Worship their Patriarch wears a Globe on his Mitre seeming to signifie his Universality over the Church In their Religious Worship c. They use a great many Ceremonies too many here to enumerate The vulgar sort little affect Learning and are not much knowing in the Affairs of other Countrys bending their Studyes or Industry on Tillage Handicrafts and other Inferiour Offices little affecting Travel though their Merchants Journey and Trade in divers Countrys of Europe and Asia having great advantage in the Latter by reason of the Commodious Situation of the Caspian Sea into which the River Volga carrys them falling with such violence that it keeps its stream for some Leagues in the Salt Water The Moscovits are generally very Burley much affecting a Plump Fleshy Corpulency and this may happen by reason of their feeding which they do very plentifully among the better sort and such as are able to keep Good Tables though their Diet is rather much than over-curious They commonly begin with a Chark or Small-Cup of Aquavitae which they call Russ-wine and after that drink not till toward the end of Meals and then they are not sparing They have variety of Dishes the first are their Bak'd Meats for Roast-meat they little affect and then their Brothes or Pottage After Dinner they usually sleep on Benches The Drink of the Better sort is Mead but the poorer 〈◊〉 content with a thin Drink call'd Quas
something more in value than an English Peney 10 of them make a Greven 3 Capecks are call d an Altine by which Contracts and Bargains are usually made 33 Altines and one Capeck make a Rubble At Arch-Angel there is an Exchange practic'd and the Price of Russ Mony bears as the scarcety or plenty will allow The Receipts begin in August to return in London about the latter end of December The Weights chiefly in use are the Pood by which all fine Goods are weighed as Beaver Silk Wool c. but for gross Goods they have a Weight call'd the Berzovet accounted 10 Poods or the Russship-Pound computed to be 360 Pound Averdupois so that all Goods bought by this Weight are accounted to be 10 Per cent profit so that many have recon'd Goods so bought to pay the Freight with over-weight and all Goods bought by the Pood to be 10 Per cent less The Measure of length is call'd the Archin and is accounted 28 English Inches so that 100 Archins are supposed to produce Incirca 78 yards of London Measure Oyle mostly Fish-Oyle they sell by the Barrel each Barrel accounted half a Hogshead Concave Measures are little us'd in Trade As for their Furs of which they have many sorts as Bever Otter White Red Black and Dun Fox Sables Martins Minever c. they are usually sold by the Timber Weight or Tale and much coveted by Merchant Strangers who purchase them at dear rates and send them into most Countrys of Europe and Asia and into the other parts of the World They take upon the Coast abundance of Seals which is done in this manner they carry their Boats over the Ice to open Water and finding their haunts where they lye basking on huge Flakes of Ice in a Sunshiney day coming out of the Sea for that purpose they hem them in with their Boats and with great Clubs striking them on the Nose quickly kill them their Skins are good Merchandice and of their Fat they make a sort of Redish Oyle There is another Sea-Creature called a Morse who has Teeth about a foot long by the help of which he clambers up Rocks to seek for Prey and for the sake of his Teeth they take him which exceeds Ivory and are of great esteem among them They have in some parts of the Country White Fox Grey and Red Squirrils a large Water-Rat whose Skin smells naturaly like Muske They have also Wulberins They have likewise a Beast called Losh or Buff whose Skin turns to very good account They have a Fish called Ribzuba whose Teeth are as fine as Ivory and used for heads of Knives Sword-hafts c. Likewise some use the Powder to Antedote Poison as the Vnicorns horne this I hold to be the same with the Morse The word Ribzuba in their Language rather signifieing the Tooth than the Fish for it is caught about Pecliora or Petzora some of them have been found with their Teeth of 2 foot long weighing 11 Pound or more They have in the Woods and Mountains many wild Horses also flying Squirils having Tufts of hair growing to their Shouldiers like Wings which makes them seem to fly when they take vast leaps from one Tree to another their Tails are much broader than others which shakes and spreads as they leap and so facilitates them in their Agillity They have Hares the colour of ours in Summer but in Winter they change their Coats into Milk-white and the Squirils the like from a Redish unto a Grey whereof cometh the Calaber They have store of Deer Roe-Bucks and Goats in some parts Elks on which the Semoids on their borders Ride and cause their Sleads to be drawn by Harts or Ollins large Dogs c. Their Horses and Sheep are but small yet both good in their kind As for Fowl they have great plenty as the Egle-Hawks of several kinds The Swan Wild and Tame the Stork and Crane the Tedder of the colour of a Phesant but much biger living in the Firr-woods of Phesant and Partridge they have great plenty The Owls in Moscovy are exceeding large their Ears as big as a Man's and much like them They have many River-Fish common with ours as Pike Carp Roaeh Tench c. but others altogether strange to us as the Behlouga or Bellougiva 4 or 5 Ells long The Severinga or Sterledy somewhat in fashion and tast like a Sturgeon but not so thick nor long The Ribela or White Salmon these are found in great plenty in the River Volga and other Rivers in a River near the Town of Perislave they take a Fish like our Herring but not so big They have abundance of Salt-wells turning to great advantage in making Salt and near Astracan the Sea-Water being thrown up among the Rocks in the hot weather the Sun makes it into Hills of Salt they have in this Country a Lucid Slate cut out of a Rock which being split into thin slivers serves as Trasparent Glass and in the Rivers near the Bay of St. Nicholas several Rocks of Alablaster but not to wade too far in matters that to some may seem Trival I intend to close with what may yet seem more worthy of Note CHAP. VII The Succession of the Royal Houses of Moscovy for about 1600 years to the present CZAR giving an Historical account of their Victorys Enlarging their Dominions the Revolutions that have happen'd in the State The manner of the Corronation and other things of the like nature The CZAR or great Duke of Moscovys Honourable Titles The Impress of the Broad Seal Degrees of Nobility c. THe Succession of the Government of that vast Country now call'd Moscovy in part and in the whole has been of Antient standing as will appear in the following brief History brought down to the present CZAR Peter Alexowitz The Dukes of Moscovy are held though it may be thought something doubtful from Augustus Caesar the second Roman Emperour however according to other Historians Writing of this matter I shall trace it from hence to an undoubted certainty as the times came nearer to us and briefly touch on what memorably happen'd by the way They tell us that Augustus Caesar sent some of his near Kindred to be Governours in these Parts and amongst them one Prussus who Named his Province or Government Prussia which lay on the Eastern Baltic Shoar by the River Wixel of whom Rurek Sirianus and Truvrio decending by the fourth Generation were by the Russians then living without Civil Government sent for Anno. Dom. 573 to bear Rule over them at the perswasion of Gostomislius chief Magistrate of Novogrod and taking with them Olechus their Kinsman they had by common Consent the Government of those Countrys divided amongst them and all but Rurek dying without Issue Vorson his Son succeeded him in the whole Government as it had been Agreed amongst them who took to Wife Olba Daughter to a Citizen of Plesco who brought him a Son call'd Stoslaus who succeeded him and was slain
about 4260 Verst a Verst being something more than 3 quarters of an English Mile and Northward beyond Cola are other Territories but the Extream Cold is there very Oppressive so that they are not much Fertil when their Coat of Snow is dissolv'd by the Sun in the Four Hot Summer Months The Breadth from that part which lyeth the farthest West from the Narve side to the part of Siberia Eastward is in a manner equal to the Length Moscovy is Water'd by many large Rivers most of them when the Weather is open being Navigable some by lesser and some by larger Vessels that procure a considerable Trade but in the Ridged Season they are frozen over so that Sleads and Carriages pass on them from place to place they abound in Fish and the Volga is famous for the great quantity of Sturgeon taken in it It is about 2800 Verst in length an English Mile in most places over and empties its Waters into the Caspian Sea running by Astracan and other Towns of Note to which it brings a considerable Trade The other Rivers of Note are the Boristhenes that divideth the Country from Lithuania and falleth into the Euxine Sea The Tanais or Don the Antient boundary between Europe and Asia falling into the great Lake of Moeotis by the City of Azou Duyna falling unto the Bay of St. Nicholas Northward and to be brief a great many more as Moscow running thorough the City of that Name and about ten others very large besides smaller Streams the least for length and breadth comparable to the River of Thames and from these proceed many Branches so that take the Country in general it is as well Watered as can be desired and accomodated with several good Ports and Havens The Soile of this Spacious Country cannot be reasonably expected no more than others Fertil in all places alike and in some parts particularly by reason of its Northern Situation lying from 33 to 69 degrees and some Minutes North Latititude Yet is it wonderful to see how God has ordered things here to the Advantage and for the Subsistance of the Inhabitants The Earth for the most part is of a slight Sandy Mould but not alike for producing such things as spring up Northwards towards St. Nicholas and Cola and North-East towards Siberia there is an indifferent Sterility the Country there being full of Desarts and vast Forrests by reason of the extreamety of the Climate in the colder Season but from the Volga which lyes almost 1700 verst from the Port of St. Nicholas down towards Moscow and so the Southern parts that border on the Crimee that contains near the like space the Country is very Fruitful in the proper Season yeilding Pasture Corn Flowers pleasant Fruits and Woods in great plenty and so it is between Rezan and Novogrod that lyes South-East from Moscow and other parts as between Moscow and Smolensko that lyes South-West towards Littuania insomuch that one would wonder to see the great alteration between Winter and Summer in Moscovy In the former the whole Country is cover'd by a continual falling Snow that is sometimes a yard or two in deepness in the Southern parts but more excessive in the North and the Cold is so extream that the Rivers and other Waters are Frozen to a vast thickness and this usually continues for five Months viz. from the beginning of November till towards the end of March at what time the Suns warm beams returning the Snow begins to melt away which makes the face of the Country look very frightful and the Ways on the Thaw for a time unpracticable But then as it were on a suddain the face of Nature is chang'd for though a little before Water thrown up in the Air would descend in Ice drops and any Mettal grasped fast in ones hand stick to the Skin and make it blister if taken abroad and many People venturing too far were frozen to death in the Streets and on their Jorneys in the Sleads Now the Woods that are mostly of Birch and Firr give a pleasing sight the Meddows and Pastures look green and grow apace variety of Flowers appear in the Fields and the Birds make a pleasing Harmony the Nightingals there in abundance have a clearer Note than with us and this suddain growth of things proceeds from the Benefit of the Snow which lying so long keeps off the Rigour of the Frost and disolving so thoroughly drenches and soaks the Earth that the Sun coming hot as it were on a suddain into a cold Climate the Plants and Herbs c. find such a Norishment that they sooner shoot forth than in warmer Countrys and indeed considering the past cold the heat is greater than usually with us in June July and August which produces store of Aples Pears Plums Cherrys Black and Red a Fruit like a Musk-Mellion but more pleasant in tast Cucumbers Gowrds Rasps Strawberrys Hurtle-berrys and many other Berrys also Wheat Rye Barley Pease Buskway Psnytha tasting somewhat like Rice and sometimes they have such plenty that Wheat is sold at two English Pence a Bushel the Rye is sow'd before the Frost all other Grain for the most part the beginning of May but the Northern parts are usually served in a great degree by the Southern with Corn as being more Steril This Country above others is noted for Rich Furs which they get by hunting divers creatures as also Hides Tallow Wax Honey Flax Hemp Tar and other valuable Commoditys CHAP. II. Of the Cities and Towns of Moscovy their Situation Fortification Manner of Building The Discovery of the North-east Passage by the English their Factory Setled at Arch-Angel c. The Populousness of the Country considering the Wasts in it The Danger of Wild Beasts and the Disposition of the Natives OF the Creatures of this Country I shall Treat particularly in due place But now pursuing the Method I propose to lay down The next thing that offers is the Cities Towns and the like that Adorn and Beautify the Country and those of Note are Moscow the Metropolis from which the Country at present seems to take its Name as that City does from the River on whose Bounds it stands It is about 12 Miles in compass and may contain about 41500 Families Convents Churches and Chappels The Houses in general are built with VVood Plaister'd with Mortar and Straw done over with Lime brought from Smolensko c. and then covered over with Boards and Bark of Trees which renders them cooler in Summer and warmer in VVinter but subjects them more to Fire of which they have had many Fatal Experiments for An. 1571. The Tartars Burnt it and in it destroy'd about 80000 Persons Anno 1611. the Polanders Fir'd it Anno 1676. an Accidental Fire happen'd and sunk 5000 Houses in the Conflagration But since care has been taken to Rebuild those Devastations for the most part and at present 't is reckon'd among the Flourishing Cities of Europe and Guards are appointed to
not exceeding our Small Beer which many Drink The Women are mostly of Gross Bodies and not so comely as in many European Countrys Wherefore knowing their Natural Defect to be the more B●lov'd of their Husbands they use Art to mend their Co●●●exions but their Paint and Washes are easily discern'd bu● 〈◊〉 being the Fashion it is rather Commended than Reprov'd ●●d the Husbands Allow their Wives and Daughters a comp●●●●● to buy Red and White Colours to this purpose but th●● 〈◊〉 the heat of their Stoves which are almost in every House much drys and wrinkles them making them look old before they arrive to it and for their Health or rather to preserve it they use Bath-stoves or Hot-Houses commonly twice a week Their Houses by heating their Peaches which are made like German Bath-stoves and their Potlads like Ovens are never without a considerable heat though many times they will come out of them Sweating and sometimes plundge into the Water when they are foaming-hot which would certainly kill any but those that have Innur'd their Bodies to the two extreameties of Heat and Cold which few or no other Nations do equal to them As for their Habits they are generally after the Greek Fashion The better sort go decently and very Richly clad and their Habit in some measure shows a distinction of degrees by some or other little variation They shave their heads close unless fallen under the Princes displeasure and then let the hair grow as a Mark of dejectedness or Sorrow so to have offended as to be out of favour but their Garments differ in Stuffs though little in fashion the Women affect Rich ones as well as the Men as Cloath Rich Furs Silks Cloath of Gold or Interwoven with it and usually down to their Ancles or Heels though their Summer Garments are much lighter than those they wear in Winter the latter being always well lin'd with costly Furs as Black Fox Ermin Martin Grey Squirel c. of which Creatures and many others yeilding Furs they have abundance in the several Provinces But the Mousic and his Wife go meanly clad yet will not be out of Court Fashion as near as may be their upper Garments are Course Cloath and their under ones perhaps Sheeps Skin with the Wool on though so dress'd that they are very warm and plyable but this is for Winter for in the Summer the Man goes in his Shirt and the Woman in a Linnen Garment called two Shirts Thus as I hope having given a Satisfatory account of this matter I proceed to others CHAP. IV. Of the Goverment of the Provinces and Shires The Courts of Judicature Their Jurisdictions and the manner of Proceeding in them Of the Chief Assembly or Parliament Their Justice c. HAving proceeded thus far in Generals and Particulars Relateing to Moscovy I now come more closely to the latter as to what remains more Materialy to be discover'd and first of the Government of the Provinces and Shires of this large Dominion They are properly divided into four parts which they call Chetfirds or Tetrearchies every part contains divers Shires and is anex'd to the several Offices from whence it derives the Name The First beareth the name of Pososkoy Chetfird or the Jurisdiction of the Office of Ambassages and the standing Salary to the Officer is yearly 100 Rubbles or Marks beside great advantages accruing The Second is called Roseradney Chetfird because it is proper to the Roserade or High Constable who has a like Sallary with the former The Third is Pomeslenoy Chetfird as appartaining to that Office and here is kept a Register of all the Lands given by the Prince for service to his Noblemen Gentlemen and others This Office giveth out and taketh in all the Assurances for them and the Chief Officer has 500 Rubbles per Annum The Fourth is called Cassanskoy-deworets as being apropriated to the Office which has the Jurisdiction of the Kingdoms of Astracan and Cazan with the Cities and Towns lying on the Volga and is stipen'd at 150 Rubbles per Annum and from the Jurisdiction of th●●● Offices but a very few places are priveledg'd or exempted except the CZAR's Inheritance or Vochin as they call it for that it pertained from antient time to the House of Beala This standeth of 36 Towns with their Bounds or Teritories and some other particular Royaltie These great Officers reside at Court and carry their Offices with them where-ever they go They receive all Complaints and Actions that are brought out of the several Chetfirds and Quarters to exhibit them to the CZAR's Council and send back and to send direction to those that officiate under them in the Provinces for all matters given in charge by the Prince or his Council to be done or put in Execution within their precincts and each of the Dukes of lower Nobility in head Towns hath in Commission with him a Dyack or Secretary to assist and advise him the better to Regulate and order matters as they fall out and are directed and their Commission is to this Effect viz. 1. To Hear and determine all Civil matters between Man and Man and to that purpose have under them many Substitute Officers 2. They have Cognizance of all Criminal matters as Theft Murther Treason c. but there lyes an Appeal from them to the CZAR's Council and though they take the Evidence in this case they must draw up the Evidence and Information of the cause and send it ready digested to the Officer of the Chetfird whereunto the Province belongs by whom it is prefered and propounded to the Council for they are not to determine Criminal matters or do Execution on the offender without the Councils order 3. If within the Province there be any publick Service requir'd as the Publishing of a Law or Common Order by way of Proclamation Mustering Soldiers Collecting Taxes or Impositions c. it is proper to them These Dukes and Dyacks are appointed by the CZAR but for a year and then at his pleasure he may change them which is usually done unless by Merrit or Intercession any are continu'd Longer and though their highest Sallary is but 100 Rubbles per Annum yet coming bare into these places in one year they very much inrich themselves For ordinary matters there are many other ●fficers that hold Inferiour Courts and otherways look after ●●e affair not much differing in the main from what is practic'd in England so that the Provinces are carefully regarded and known Bribery is severly punished As for the Courts of Civil Justice in Moscovy for matters of Contract and others of like sort beside the former they are of three kinds and by way of Appeal one is subjected to the other the lowest of these appointed for the Ease of the Subject is the Office of the Gubnoy Starust which signifies in their Language an Alderman and of the Solsky Starust or Baylif of the Soak or Hundred these have power to determine matters within their Soaks