Beast which they call a Morse who seeks his Food on the Rocks climing up with help of his Teeth whereof they make as great account as we of the Elephant's Tooth CHAP. II. Of Samoedia Siberia and other Countries north-east subject to the Muscovites NOrth-east of Russia lieth Samoedia by the River Ob. This Country was first discover'd by Oneke a Russian who first trading privately among them in rich Furrs got great Wealth and the knowledge of their Country then reveal'd his discovery to Boris Protectour to Pheodor shewing how beneficial that Country gain'd would be to the Empire Who sending Ambassadours among them gallantly attir'd by fair means won their subjection to the Empire every Head paying yearly two Skins of richest Sables Those Messengers travailing also 200 leagues beyond Ob east-ward made report of pleasant Countries abounding with Woods and Fountains and People riding on Elks and Loshes others drawn on Sleds by Rain-deer others by Dogs as swift as Deer The Somoeds that came along with those Messengers returning to Mosco admir'd the stateliness of that City and were as much admir'd for excellent Shooters hitting every time the breadth of a penny as far distant as hardly could be discern'd The River Ob is reported by the Russes to be in breadth the sayling of a Summer's day but full of Islands and Shoals having neither Woods nor till of late Inhabitants Out of Ob they turn into the River Tawze The Russians have here since the Samoeds yielded them subjection two Governours with 3 or 400 Gunners have built Villages and some small Castles all which Place they call Mongozey or Molgomzay Further up-land they have also built other Cities of Wood consisting chiefly of Poles Tartars and Russes fugitive or condemned men as Vergateria Siber whence the whole Country is nam'd Tinna thence Tobolsca on this side Ob on the Rivers Irtis and Tobol chief Seat of the Russian Governour above that Zergolta in an Island of Ob where they have a Custom house beyond that on the other side Ob Narim and Tooina now a great City Certain Churches also are erected in those Parts but no man forc'd to Religion beyond Narim eastward on the River Telta is built the Castle of Comgoscoi and all this Plantation began since the year 1590. with many other Towns like these And these are the Countries from whence come all the Sables and rich Furrs The Samoeds have no Towns or certain place of abode but up and down where they find Moss for their Deer they live in companies peaceably and are govern'd by some of the Ancientest amongst them but are Idolaters They shoot wondrous cunningly their Arrow heads are sharpned Stones or Fish-bones which latter serve them also for Needles their Thread being the Sinews of certain small Beasts wherewith they sowe the Furrs which cloath them the furry side in Summer outward in Winter inward They have many Wives and their Daughters they sell to him who bids most which if they be not lik't are turn'd back to their Friends the Husband allowing onely to the Father what the marriage Feast stood him in Wives are brought to bed there by their Husbands and the next day go about as before They till not the Ground but live on the Flesh of those Wild Beasts which they hunt They are the onely Guides to such as travaile Iougoria Siberia or any of those north-east parts in Winter being drawn on Sleds with Bucks riding post day and night if it be Moon-light and lodge on the Snow under Tents of Deer Skins in whatever place they find enough of white Moss to feed their Sled Staggs turning them loose to dig it up themselves out of the deep Snow another Samoede stepping to the next Wood brings in store of Firing round about which they lodge within their Tents leaving the top open to vent Smoak in which manner they are as warm as the Stoves in Russia They carry Provision of Meat with them and partake besides of what Fowle or Venison the Samoede kills with shooting by the way their Drink is melted Snow Two Deer being yoak'd to a Sled riding post will draw 200 miles in 24 hours without resting and laden with their Stuff will draw it 30 miles in 12. CHAP. III. Of Tingoesia and the Countries adjoyning eastward as far as Cathay BEyond Narim and Comgoscoi the Souldiers of those Garrisons travailing by appointment of the Russian Governour in the year 1605. found many goodly Countries not inhabited many vast Deserts and Rivers till at the end of ten weeks they spy'd certain Cottages and Herds or companies of People which came to them with reverent behaviour and signify'd to the Samoeds and Tartars which were Guides to the Russian Souldiers that they were call'd Tingoesi that their dwelling was on the great River Ienissey This River is said to be far bigger than Ob distant from the Mouth thereof 4 daies and nights sayling and likewise falls into the Sea of Naramzie it hath high Mountains on the East some of which cast out Fire to the West a plain and fertil Country which in the Spring time it overflowes about 70 leagues all that time the Inhabitants keep them in the Mountains and then return with their Cattel to the Plain The Tingoesi are a very gentle Nation they have great swoln Throats like those in Italy that live under the Alpes at perswasion of the Samoeds they forthwith submitted to the Russian Government and at their request travailing the next year to discover still eastward they came at length to a River which the Savages of that place call'd Pisida somewhat less than Ienissey beyond which hearing ofttimes the towling of Brazen Bells and sometimes the noise of Men and Horses they durst not pass over they saw there certain Sayles afar off square and therefore suppos'd to be like Indian or China Sayles and the rather for that they report that great Guns have been heard shot off from those Vessels In April and May they were much delighted with the fair prospect of that Country replenish't with many rare Trees Plants and Flowers Beasts and Fowle Some think here to be the Borders of Tangut in the north of Cathay Some of those Samoeds about the Year 1610. travail'd so far till they came in view of a White City and heard a great din of Bells and report there came to them Men all arm'd in Iron from head to foot And in the Year 1611. divers out of Cathay and others from Alteen Czar who stiles himself the golden King came and traded at Zergolta or Surgoot on the River Ob bringing with them Plates of Silver Whereupon Michael Pheodorowick the Russian Emperour in the Year 1619. sent certain of his People from Tooma to Alteen and Cathay who return'd with Ambassadours from those Princes These relate that from Tooma in ten daies and a half
A Brief HISTORY OF MOSCOVIA AND Of other less-known Countries lying eastward of Russia as far as Cathay Gather'd from the Writings of several Eye-witnesses By IOHN MILTON LONDON Printed by M. Flesher for Brabazon Aylmer at the Three Pigeons against the Royal Exchange 1682. The Authour's PREFACE THE study of Geography is both profitable and delightfull but the Writers thereof though some of them exact enough in setting down Longitudes and Latitudes yet in those other relations of Manners Religion Government and such like accounted Geographical have for the most part miss'd their proportions Some too brief and deficient satisfy not others too voluminous and impertinent cloy and weary out the Reader while they tell long Stories of absurd Superstitions Ceremonies quaint Habits and other petty Circumstances little to the purpose Whereby that which is usefull and onely worth observation in such a wood of words is either overslip't or soon forgotten which perhaps brought into the mind of some men more learned and judicious who had not the leisure or purpose to write an entire Geography yet at least to assay something in the description of one or two Countreys which might be as a Pattern or Example to render others more cautious hereafter who intended the whole work And this perhaps induc'd Paulus Jovius to describe onely Muscovy and Britain Some such thoughts many years since led me at a vacant time to attempt the like argument and I began with Muscovy as being the most northern Region of Europe reputed civil and the more northern Parts thereof first discovered by English Voiages Wherein I saw I had by much the advantage of Jovius What was scatter'd in many Volumes and observ'd at several times by Eye-witnesses with no cursory pains I laid together to save the Reader a far longer travaile of wandring through so many desert Authours who yet with some delight drew me after them from the eastern Bounds of Russia to the Walls of Cathay in several late Iourneys made thither overland by Russians who describe the Countreys in their way far otherwise than our common Geographers From proceeding further other occasions diverted me This Essay such as it is was thought by some who knew of it not amiss to be published that so many things remarkable dispers'd before now brought under one view might not hazard to be otherwise lost nor the labour lost of collecting them J. M. ADVERTISEMENT This Book was writ by the Authour 's own hand before he lost his sight And sometime before his death dispos'd of it to be printed But it being small the Bookseller hop'd to have procured some other suitable Piece of the same Authour 's to have joyn'd with it or else it had been publish'd ' ere now MOSCOVIA OR Relations of Moscovia As far as hath been discover'd by English VOYAGES Gather'd from the Writings of several Eye-witnesses And of other less-known Countries lying Eastward of Russia as far as Cathay lately discovered at several times by Russians CHAP. I. A brief Description THE Empire of Moscovia or as others call it Russia is bounded on the North with Lapland and the Ocean Southward by the Crim Tartar on the West by Lituania Livonia and Poland on the East by the River Ob or Oby and the Nagayan Tartars on the Volga as far as Astracan The north parts of this Country are so barren that the Inhabitants fetch their Corn a 1000 miles and so cold in Winter that the very Sap of their Wood-fewel burning on the fire freezes at the Brands end where it drops The Mariners which were left a shipboard in the first English Voyage thither in going up onely from their Cabins to the Hatches had their breath so congeal'd by the cold that they fell down as it were stifl'd The Bay of Saint Nicholas where they first put in lyeth in 64 degrees call'd so from the Abby there built of Wood wherein are 20 Monks unlearned as then they found them and great Drunkards their Church is fair full of Images and Tapers There are besides but 6 Houses whereof one built by the English In the Bay over against the Abby is Rose Island full of damask and red Roses Violets and wild Rosemary the Isle is in circuit 7 or 8 miles about the midst of May the snow there is clear'd having two months been melting then the ground in 14 daies is dry and Grass knee-deep within a month after September Frost returns and Snow a yard high it hath a House built by the English near to a fresh fair Spring North-east of the Abby on the other side of Duina is the Castle of Archangel where the English have another House The River Duina beginning about 700 miles within the Country having first receiv'd Pinega falls here into the Sea very large and swift but shallow It runneth pleasantly between Hills on either side beset like a Wilderness with high Firre and other Trees their Boats of Timber without any Iron in them are either to sail or to be drawn up with Ropes against the stream North-east beyond Archangel standeth Lampas where twice a year is kept a great Fair of Russes Tartars and Samoeds and to the Land-ward Mezen and Slobotca two Towns of traffick between the River Pechora or Petzora and Duina To Seaward lies the Cape of Candinos and the Island of Colgoieve about 30 leagues from the Bar of Pechora in 69 degrees The River Pechora or Petzora holding his course through Siberia how far the Russians thereabouts know not runneth into the Sea at 72. mouths full of Ice abounding with Swans Ducks Geese and Partridge which they take in Iuly sell the Feathers and salt the Bodies for Winter Provision On this River spreading to a Lake stands the Town of Pustozera in 68 degrees having some 80 or 100 Houses where certain Merchants of Hull winter'd in the year 1611. The Town Pechora small and poor hath 3 Churches They traded there up the River 4 daies journey to Oustzilma a small Town of 60 Houses The Russians that have travail'd say that this River springs out of the Mountains of Iougoria and runs through Permia Not far from the Mouth thereof are the Straits of Vaigats of which hereafter more eastward is the Point of Naramzy and next to that the River Ob. Beyond which the Muscovites have extended lately their dominion Touching the Riphaean Mountains whence Tanais was anciently thought to spring our men could hear nothing but rather that the whole Country is Champain and in the northmost part huge and desert Woods of Firre abounding with Black Wolves Bears Buffs and another Beast call'd Rossomakka whose Female bringeth forth by passing through some narrow place as between two Stakes and so presseth her Womb to a disburthening Travailing southward they found the Country more pleasant fair and better inhabited Corn Pasture Meadows and huge Woods Arkania if it be not the same with Archangel
ground up to the roof This Triumph lasted a week wherein many royal Pastimes were seen after which election was made of the Nobles to new Offices and Dignities The conclusion of all was a Peal of 170 Brass Ordnance two miles without the City and 20000 Harquebuzes twice over and so the Emperour with at least 50 thousand Horse return'd through the City to his Palace where all the Nobility Officers and Merchants brought him rich Presents Shortly after the Emperour by direction of Boris conquer'd the large Country of Siberia and took Prisoner the King thereof he remov'd also corrupt Officers and former Taxes In sum a great alteration in the Government follow'd yet all quietly and without tumult These things reported abroad strook such awe into the neighbour Kings that the Crim Tartar with his Wives also and many Nobles valiant and personable men came to visit the Russian There came also 12 hundred Polish Gentlemen many Circassians and People of other Nations to offer service Ambassadours from the Turk the Persian Georgian and other Tartar Princes from Almany Poland Sweden Denmark But this glory lasted not long through the treachery of Boris who procur'd the death first of Demetrius then of the Emperour himself whereby the imperial Race after the succession of 300 years was quite extinguish't Boris adopted as before was said third Son to Iuan Vasiliwich without impeachment now ascended the Throne but neither did he enjoy long what he had so wickedly compass'd Divine revenge raising up against him a Counterfeit of that Demetrius whom he had caus'd to be murthered at Ouglets This Upstart strength'd with many Poles and Cossacks appears in arms to claim his right out of the hands of Boris who sent against him an Army of 200 thousand Men many of whom revolted to this Demetrius Peter Basman the General returning to Mosco with the empty Triumph of a reported Victory But the Enemy still advancing Boris one day after a plentifull Meal finding himself heavy and pain'd in his Stomach laid him down on his Bed but ' ere his Doctours who made great haste came to him was found speechless and soon after dy'd with grief as is suppos'd of his ill success against Demetrius Before his death though it were speedy he would be shorn and new christn'd He had but one Son whom he lov'd so fondly as not to suffer him out of sight using to say he was Lord and Father of his Son and yet his Servant yea his Slave To gain the Peoples love which he had lost by his ill getting the Empire he us'd two Policies first he caus'd Mosco to be fir'd in four places that in the quenching thereof he might shew his great care and tenderness of the People among whom he likewise distributed so much of his Bounty as both new-built their Houses and repair'd their Losses At another time the People murmuring that the great Pestilence which had then swept away a third part of the Nation was the punishment of their electing him a Murtherer to reign over them he built Galleries round about the utmost Wall of Mosco and there appointed for one whole month 20 thousand pound to be given to the Poor which well nigh stopt their Mouths After the death of Boris Peter Basman their onely hope and refuge though a Young man was sent again to the Wars with him many English Scots French and Dutch who all with the other General Goleeche sell off to the new Demetrius whose Messengers coming now to the Suburbs of Mosco were brought by the Multitude to that spatious Field before the Castle Gate within which the Council were then sitting many of whom were by the Peoples threatning call'd out and constrain'd to hear the Letters of Demetrius openly read which long ' ere the end wrought so with the Multitude that furiously they broke into the Castle laying violence on all they met when strait appear'd coming towards them two Messengers of Demetrius formerly sent pittifully whipt and roasted which added to their rage Then was the whole City in an uproar all the great Counselours Houses ransack't especially of the Godonova's the Kindred and Family of Boris Such of the Nobles that were best belov'd by entreaty prevail'd at length to put an end to this Tumult The Empress flying to a safer place had her Collar of Pearl pull'd from her Neck and by the next Message command was given to secure her with her Son and Daughter Whereupon Demetrius by general consent was proclaim'd Emperour The Empress now seeing all lost counsel'd the Prince her Son to follow his Father's example who it seems had dispatch't himself by Poyson and with a desperate courage beginning the deadly Health was pledg'd effectually by her Son but the Daughter onely sipping escap'd Others ascribe this deed to the secret Command of Demetrius and Self-murther imputed to them to avoid the envy of such a Command Demetrius Evanowich for so he call'd himself who succeeded was credibly reported the Son of Gregory Peupoloy a Russe Gentleman and in his younger years to have been shorn a Fryar but escaping from the Monastery to have travail'd Germany and other Countries but chiefly Poland where he attain'd to good sufficiency in Arms and other Experience which rais'd in him such high thoughts as grounding on a common belief among the Russians that the young Demetrius was not dead but convey'd away and their hatred against Boris on this foundation with some other circumstances to build his hopes no lower than an Empire which on his first discovery found acceptation so generally as planted him at length on the Royal Seat but not so firmly as the fair beginning promis'd for in a short while the Russians finding themselves abus'd by an Impostor on the sixth day after his marriage observing when his Guard of Poles were most secure rushing into the Palace before break of day drag'd him out of his Bed and when he had confes'd the fraud pull'd him to pieces with him Peter Basman was also slain and both their dead Bodies laid open in the Market-place He was of no presence but otherwise of a princely disposition too bountifull which occasion'd some exactions in other matters a great lover of justice not unworthy the Empire which he had gotten and lost onely through greatness of mind neglecting the Conspiracy which he knew the Russians were plotting Some say their hatred grew for that they saw him alienated from the Russian Manners and Religion having made Buchinskoy a learned Protestant his Secretary Some report from Gilbert's relation who was a Scot and Captain of his Guard that lying on his Bed awake not long before the Conspiracy he saw the appearance of an aged man coming toward him at which he rose and call'd to them that watch'd but they denied to have seen any such pass by them He returning to his Bed and within an hour after troubl'd again with the same Apparition sent for Buchinskoy telling him he had now twice
is a place of English trade from whence a days journey distant but from Saint Nicholas a 100 versts Colmogro stands on the Duina a great Town not wall'd but scatter'd The English have here Lands of their own given them by the Emperour and fair Houses not far beyond Pinega running between Rocks of Alabaster and great Woods meets with Duina From Colmogro to Vstiug are 500 versts or little miles an ancient City upon the Confluence of Iuga and Sucana into Duina which there first receives his name Thence continuing by water to Wologda a great City so nam'd of the River which passes through the midst it hath a Castle wall'd about with Brick and Stone and many wooden Churches two for every Parish the one in Winter to be heated the other us'd in Summer this is a Town of much Traffick a 1000 miles from Saint Nicholas All this way by water no lodging is to be had but under open Sky by the River side and other provision onely what they bring with them From Wologda by Sled they go to Yeraslave on the Volga whose breadth is there at least a mile over and thence runs 2700 versts to the Caspian Sea having his head Spring out of Bealozera which is a Lake amidst whereof is built a strong Tower wherein the Kings of Moscovy reserve their Treasure in time of War From this Town to Rostove then to Pereslave a great Town situate on a fair Lake thence to Mosco Between Yeraslave and Mosco which is 200 miles the Country is so fertile so populous and full of Villages that in a forenoon 7 or 800 Sleds are usually seen coming with Salt Fish or laden back with Corn. Mosco the chief City lying in 55 degrees distant from Saint Nicholas 1500 miles is reputed to be greater than London with the Suburbs but rudely built their Houses and Churches most of Timber few of Stone their Streets unpav'd it hath a fair Castle four-square upon a Hill two miles about with Brick Walls very high and some say 18 foot thick 16 Gates and as many Bulwarks in the Castle are kept the chief Markets and in Winter on the River being then firm Ice This River Moscua on the south-west side encloses the Castle wherein are nine fair Churches with round gilded Towers and the Emperour's Palace which neither within nor without is equal for state to the King's Houses in England but rather like our Buildings of old fashion with small Windows some of Glass some with Latices or Iron Bars They who travail from Mosco to the Caspian go by Water down the Moscua to the River Occa then by certain Castles to Rezan a famous City now ruinate the 10 th day to Nysnovogrod where Occa falls into Volga which the Tartars call Edel. From thence the 11 th day to Cazan a Tartan City of great wealth heretofore now under the Russian wall'd at first with Timber and Earth but since by the Emperour Vasiliwich with free Stone From Cazan to the River Cama falling into Volga from the Province of Permia the People dwelling on the left side are Gentiles and live in Woods without Houses beyond them to Astracan Tartars of Mangat and Nagay on the right side those of Crimme From Mosco to Astracan is about 600 leagues The Town is situate in an Island on a Hill-side wall'd with Earth but the Castle with Earth and Timber the Houses except that of the Governour 's and some few others poor and simple the Ground utterly barren and without Wood they live there on Fish and Sturgeon especially which hanging up to dry in the Streets and Houses brings whole swarms of Flies and infection to the Aire and oft great Pestilence This Island in length 12 leagues 3 in breadth is the Russian limit toward the Caspian which he keeps with a strong Garrison being 20 leagues from that Sea into which Volga falls at 70 mouths From Saint Nicholas or from Mosco to the Caspian they pass in 46 daies and nights most part by Water West-ward from Saint Nicholas 1200 miles is the City Novogrod 58 degrees the greatest Mart-town of all this Dominion and in bigness not inferior to Mosco The way thither is through the western bottom of Saint Nicholas Bay and so along the Shoar full of dangerous Rocks to the Monastery Solofky wherein are at least 200 Monks the People thereabout in a manner Savages yet Tenants to those Monks Thence to the dangerous River Owiga wherein are Waterfalls as steep as from a Mountain and by the violence of their descent kept from freezing so that the Boats are to be carried there a mile over land which the Tenants of that Abby did by command and were guides to the Merchants without taking any reward Thence to the Town Povensa standing within a mile of the famous Lake Onega 320 miles long and in some places 70 at narrowest 25 broad and of great depth Thence by some Monasteries to the River Swire then into the Lake Ladiscay much longer than Onega after which into the River Volhusky which through the midst of Novogrod runs into this Lake and this Lake into the Baltick sound by Narv and Revel Their other Cities toward the western bound are Plesco Smolensko on Vobsco The Emperour exerciseth absolute power if any man die without male issue his Land returns to the Emperour Any rich man who through age or other impotence is unable to serve the Publick being inform'd of is turn'd out of his Estate and forc'd with his Family to live on a small Pension while some other more deserving is by the Duke's authority put into possession The manner of informing the Duke is thus Your Grace saith one hath such a Subject abounding with Riches but for service of the State unmeet and you have others poor and in want but well able to doe their Country good service Immediately the Duke sends forth to enquire and calling the Rich man before him Friend saith he you have too much Living and are unserviceable to your Prince less will serve you and the rest maintain others who deserve more The man thus call'd to impart his Wealth repines not but humbly answers that all he hath is God's and the Duke's as if he made restitution of what more justly was anothers than parted with his own Every Gentleman hath rule and justice over his own Tenants if the Tenants of two Gentlemen agree not they seek to compose it if they cannot each brings his Tenant before the high Judge of that Country They have no Lawyers but every man pleads his own Cause or else by Bill or Answer in writing delivers it with his own hands to the Duke yet Justice by corruption of inferiour Officers is much perverted Where other proof is wanting they may try the matter by personal combat or by champion If a Debtor be poor he becomes bondman to the Duke who