passage to the Boats over the 〈◊〉 Islands The River Volga contains a prodigious Store of Fish of all Sorts a very good Commodity in Musâ—ovy by reason of the great number of their Fast-days which both the Tartars and Muscovites catch with a Cord but in a different manner The Tartars fasten to the end of a long Cord a pretty big Stone which sinks to the bottom several great pieces of Wood being fastn'd to the other end 〈…〉 which swim upon the Water All along this great Cord many littles ones are fastn'd at some distance from one another each of these has at the end a goodâ—ook baited with a certain Fish which they know the rest to be greedy of by which Invention they catch often Fish of ten twelve and more foot long The Muscovites take also a Cord with a â—ook fastn'd to the end of it this Cord is tyâ—d about a piece of a well plainâ—d Board tinn'd over its â—igness about 4 or 5 Inches square which being draggâ—d behind a Boat by the reflection of the Sun resembles the Scales of Fish by which means they draw up Fish of a very great seize to the Bait and into the Snare Among other Fish wherewith this River abounds the Sturgeon is none of the least considerable whose Eggs afford that Ragout which the Italians call Cavayar 〈…〉 and the Muscovites 〈◊〉 the Eggs are put into a Paste being prepar'd 10 or 12 days with Salt This Commodity affords a considerable Trade to Muscovy being exported from thence to all Parts of Europe where it is look'd upon as the best of this kind for which reason the Czar keeps this Trade to himself Some Miles below the abovementioned ruined places the Shoar on both sides of the River is very Mountainous yet not â—o but that the Valleys afford very pleasant Pastures The first that appears on the right hand is a Mountain out of which the Muscovites get great store of Salt which being prepared in certain Huts at the foot of the Mountain is sent from thence by the River to Mâ—sâ—o Almost opposite to this is another Mountain at the foot of which the River Vssa falls into the Wolga On both sides are very fine Meadows bordering upon the Shoar but at some distance from thence are very thick Woods a place of retreat for the Cosacks which makes it very dangerous for Travellors Below this lies the Mountain Diwiagora or Maids-mountain which being divided into several steepy ' Hills of various colours and bearing Pine-trees in so regular an Order as if they had been planted there on purpose makes it appear very pleasant to the eye At the foot of this rises another which reaches near 40 Miles along the River But what is most remarkable here Thâ— Cyâ—â—â— Valley is the Valleys betwixt them which being stor'd with Apple-trees affords very good Cyder being called by the Muscovites Jabla-New-quas which is as much to say as Drink of Apples Some of these Mountains reach a great way into the Country others bordering only upon the River-side At the left side of the River about two Miles from the Shoar lies the City of Samara belonging to the abovementioned Tartarian Province of Bulgar and above 300 Miles distant from the City of Casan It s Form is square its Buildings all of Wood except the Churches and Monasteries which are three in number The River of Samar from whence it derives its name falls about three Miles below into the Volga About 100 Miles from hence is the Mountain of the Cosacks being all bare without any Wood it serves for a retreating place to the Cosacks living upon the Don or Tanais and hath from thence got its denomination Betwixt this and the City of Saratof above 200 Miles distant from hence are abundance of small Islands in this River so that at certain Seasons it has been fordable and consequently very incommodâ—ous for Ships of Burthen who at such places are obliged to unload part of their Cargo in smaller Boats which they carry along with them for that purpose The City of Saratof is situate in a very fair large Plain about four Miles from the River-side upon a Branch of the Wolga It is inhabited by Muscovite Soldiers who are put there as a Guard against the Incursions of the Tartars called Kalmuches Tartars Kalâ—uches Inhabiting a vast Tract of Ground which extends towards the Caspian Sea betwixt this River and the River Jaika About Three Hundred Miles lower 50 Miles on this side the City of Zariza The River Tanais the River Don the Tanais of the Antient Geographers advances within a days Journey near the River Volga as some Miles below the said City behind a certain Island called the Isle of Zerpinsko there falls a little River called Kamous which rises out of the before-mentioned River Don into the River Volga but it being very shallow affords scarce passage for small Boats Notwithstanding which there are some who affirm that it might be rendred more Navigable and consequently a Communication be established betwixt these two considerable Rivers Near the first of these two above-mentioned places The first Branch of the Wolga before you come to the City of Zariza near Achtobska Vtska the River Volga divides it self into two Branches whereof one taking its course to the left into the Country carries its Stream for a Mile to the North-East quite contrary to the Current of the great River but afterwards reassuming its former course returns to the South-East till it falls into the Caspian Sea About 40 Miles from hence at 5 Mile distance from the River-side are to be seen the Ruins of a great City formerly called Zaaresgorod that is to say the 〈◊〉 Royal built as it is related by Tamerlain Its Palace and Walls were all of Brick which have furnish'd the City of Astrachan for these many Years with Materials for their Walls Churches and Monasteries A few Miles from this Place lies the City of Zariza at the bottom of a Hill on the right side of the River 49 Degrees and 42 min. Elevation It is fortified with several Bastions and Towers but all of Wood it being a Frontier-Garison against the Neighbouring Tartars and Cossacks and inhabited only by Soldiers who also serve for a Convoy to the Vessels passing this way up and down the River All abouts here and even as far as Astrachan it self the Country except the before-mentioned Island of Zerpinsko which is Twelve Miles long and furnishes the Cattle belonging to the Garison with Grass the Soil is so barren that it affords no manner of Corn which defect however is easily supplyed by help of the River the fertile Grounds about Casan furnishing these Parts and even the City of Astrachan with Wheat at a very cheap rate About Sixscore Miles below the City of Zariza the River Wesowi near a small Island of the same Name falls into the Wolga on the right side as does the River Wolodinerski Vtsga 30 Miles lower
generally excessive Cold in the Winter and the Heats in the Summer during the space of two or three Months very intense and violent The Country is generally flat and Sandy full of Trees and Woods so that Muscovy in a manner appears to be one continual Forest irrigated by a great multitude of Lakes and Rivers which renders it incomparably pleasant in the Summer and extreamly commodious for Travelling and Trading in the Winter The Lakes most remarkable for their bigness The most 〈…〉 Muscovy are 1. Ivanosera which is as much as to say John's Lake is situated in the great Forest of Epiphanow in the Province of Resan 500 English Miles long 2. Bieleâ—sera near 50 Miles in compass Ilmin or Ilmen 200 Miles long and as many broad near the City of Novogoâ—od Veliki Towards the West near the Confines of Finland there are two more not far distant from one another and of great extent the first is called Ladoga or Laduga which contains several small Islands and great store of Fish its Compass being near 300 Leagues The second is called Onega near 250 Miles long and 80 broad besides a great many others not to be mentioned in this place there being so prodigious a number of Lakes and Brooks all over Muscovy that scarce four or five Leagues can be travelled there without seeing some of them on all sides It is particularly observable in Muscovy that most of its Rivers even those of the first Rank take their original from Lakes The River Volga it self The Chiefâ—â—◠〈…〉 Muscovy the biggest in Europe if not in the World owes its first off-spring to a Lake call'd Fronow in the Province of Roscovie and derives its name from another Lake at some few Miles distance from the former called Volga through which it passes and after having traversed many Provinces and received a great number of small Rivers it disembogues near Astrachan into the Caspian Sea The next considerable River is the Boristhenes or Niâ—per it takes its source in the same Province of Roscovie where the Volga does and discharges it self into the Euxine Sea The River Oby taking its source from the Lake Catisco traverses the Desarts of Tartary from South to North-west and having served as a boundary betwixt that Country and the Muscovian Territories discharges it self into the Frozen Sea Besides these there are two considerable Rivers of the same name called Duina i. e. Twain or Two the first being the confluence of two Rivers viz. of the Jagel and Sâ—cogna disembogues into the white Sea near the Famous City of Archangel The second Duina owes its name and off-spring to a Lake of the same Name a few Miles distant from the Boristhenes or Niâ—per and falls about four Leagues from Riga in Livonia into the Baltique Not to mention here the Rivers of Mosca and Occa and others of less note wherewith this Country is stock'd which for the most part loose themselves either in the Volga or in the other abovementioned Rivers and will be more particularly taken notice of in their proper places The Territories under the obedience of the Czars of Muscovy Muscovy divided in four Parts are commonly divided into four several Parts The first is the Northern Muscovy bordering on Sweden which contains seven very large Provinces viz. The Muscovite Lapland Dwina Pleskâ—w Kargapol Wologda Novogorod Veliki and Biâ—leja Osera The second Part is the Northern Muscovy bordering on the Tartars divided into sixteen Provinces viz. that of Candora Juhora or Juhorski New-Holland near the Streight of Nassaw or Weigats Petzora Obdora Vstioug Perniski Wiatka Wachines the Principalities of Bielski Smolensko and Severia or Novogorod Seuierski part of the Palatinate of Kiow the Dukedom of Kraina and lastly the Province called Pole Besides which it contains three different Sorts of People called Czeremissi Logovoi Czeremissi Nagorni and the Morduates The third Part is that of the Southern Muscovy comprehending ten very large Provinces viz. that of Muscovy properly so called the Dukedoms of Werotin Rezan Welodi Jaroslow Sasdel Rostow T were and Roscow besides the Province of Nise-Novogorod The fourth and last is the Muscovian Tartary divided into nine Parts viz. into the four Kingdoms of Astrachan Bulgar Casan and Siberia into the four Provinces of Lucomoria Loppia Pegahorda and Javalhahordo the ninth Part containing eight different Sorts of People viz. the Samoyedes Tingoeses Vigulei Scibanski Tustiouski Calami Hugneski and Tartars-Cornubii Formerly the Sovereigns of Russia bore the Title of Great Dukes Titles of the Czars of Muscovy and their Coat of Armes but since they have extended their Conquests among the Neighbouring Tartars the Russians salute their Princes with the Title of Weliki Knez that is Great Lord in imitation of the Turkish Grand Seignior and that of Czar or his Czarish Majesty And tho' the Word Czar in the Russian Language signifies as much as a King the Russians nevertheless having understood that the Chief among the Christian Princes of Europe is stiled by the Name of Kaysar derived from the Name of him who laid the first Foundation of the Roman Monarchy the Great Duke's Interpreters make use of the same Word when they recite their Master's Titles the affinity which is in the sound of the two Words of Caesar and Czar having questionless furnished them with an Opportunity to commit this wilful Mistake in Etymology The Arms which they make use of in their Great Seal ever since the Reign of that Famous Tyrant John Basilovitz are likewise made in imitation of the Roman Emperours viz. A double-headed Spread-Eagle the Wings only somewhat less than the Imperial Eagle having on the Breast in an Escutcheon one on Horseback fighting with a Dragon representing as they say the Archangel St. Michael in the same manner as in these Parts we used to represent St. George Above and betwixt the Eagles-heads are three Crowns viz. that of Muscovy and the two Tartarian Kingdoms of Casan and Astrachan The whole Title of the Muscovian Czars runs thus Great Lord Emperour and Grand Duke Conservator of all the Great and Little and White Russia of Muscovy Kâ—avie Volodimerie Nofgorod Emperour of Casan Emperour of Astrachan Emperour of Siberia Lord of Pscove Great Duke of Lithuania Smolensko Twersco Volinsko Podolsko Vghorsco Permsco Veatsco Bolgarsco c. Lord and Great Duke of Nofgorod in the lower Countries of Chernigo Resansco Polotsco Rostofsco Yerostofsco Beloozarsco Oudorsco Obdorsco Condinsco Wetepsco Mstisclaaco and all the Northern Parts Lord of the Country of Iversco of Cartalinsco and of Gruzinsco and of the Country of Cabardinsco of the Dukes of Cercasco and Igorsco Lord and Monarch of several other Dominions and Provinces East West and North which are his Inheritance from Father to Son Most of these Provinces being of a vast Extent and all of them except very few in the possession of the Czars of Muscovy it is manifest that whether in respect of the vast Extent of their Empire or in regard of
Monsters those other Europaeans that have of late years sail'd deeper into the Caspian Sea having neither seen nor heard any thing like it except they would take the Sea-dogs which are in great numbers near the mouth of the Wolga for such prodigious Monsters Errors of Modern Authors concerning the Caspian Sea By the Experience of those also it is sufficiently contradlcted what Petrejus in his History of Muscovy relates with so much confidence that the Water of the Caspian Sea is as black as Ink that it is full of Islands well stock'd with Inhabitants and a great number of Cities and Villages The Water being of the same colour with that of all other Seas and there being not one Island in it that has either City or Village and if the Persians Tartars and Muscovites living thereabouts may be believ'd there is only the Isle of Ensil near Ferebath which having very good Pastures the Neighbouring Inhabitants who keep their Cattle there have a few Huts to defend them against the Injuries of the Weather during the time their Cattle Grases there Of the same stamp is what Contarinus in his Travels and Father Bizarous in his History of Persia relate concerning a certain round Fish without a Head to be found in this Sea of an Ell and a half Diameter of which they say there is drawn a certain Oil which the Persians use in their Lamps and to greese their Camels whereas there are at the foot of the Mountain of Barmach near the City of Baku whole Rivulets of an Oily substance by them call'd Nefte Nefte which furnish them with a sufficient quantity of this Kind for that Use at a much cheaper Rate it being from thence transported into the other Parts of the Kingdom I am apt to believe that they are fallen into this Error by the superficial Description of a certain Fish in the Caspian Sea called Naka The Glutton or Glutton which has some resemblance to that mentioned by them for it has not only a very short Nose but the whole Head is as it was within the Belly and its Tail being round and its length and breadth near the same and sometimes of six or seven Foot it comes pretty near a circular Figure This Fish will fasten it self with the Tail under the Fisher-men's Boats so as to overturn them as will also the white Fish which makes the Fisher-men be very cautious of theâ—â— They catch the first with the Liver of Beef 〈◊〉 Mutton which the Fish much delights in thâ—â— they put as a Bait upon Iron Hooks ty'd to good strong Cords and so draw him to the Shoar But I cannot imagine upon what authority they have founded their Relation when they say that there is 〈◊〉 other Fish in the Caspian Sea it being sufficiently known by Experience that the Caspian Sea is very well Stor'd not only with abundance of Salmons Sturgeons and Herrings but also with several Kinds of Fish as are catch'd in Rivers and kept in Ponds as Barbels Breams and Trouts Before we leave the Caspian Sea it will perhaps not be amiss to take notice of a certain Species of wild Geese or rather Cormorants which are found in great numbers on that Shoar especially towards the mouth of the River Wolga They are like other Geese as to their Colour Legs Neck and Feet but the bulk of their Bodies exceeding the Swans Their Bills are fork'd at the end being a Foot and half long and near two Inches broad the whole Body of some of them being above seven Foot in length from the Head to the Feet But what is most remarkable in them is that under their Bills they have a shrivell'd Skin hanging resembling a Bagg which when dilated contains more or less three Gallons of Liquor this they make use of for a Rescrontory for such Fish they take which they afterwards swallow down at leisure On the same Shoar is also frequently seen that kind of Fowl Onocratalus which Pliny calls Onocratalus their Beaks are long and round but at the extremity flat in the form of a Spoon beaten out When it puts its Beak into the Water it makes a most hideous Noise almost like an Ass whence without doubt it had its Name I had almost forgot to tell you that the Caspian Sea neither Ebbs nor Flows which may serve as additional Argument to maintain our beforementioned Assertion that it has no communication or correspondence with any other Sea CHAP. V. Of the Tartars of Dagesthan and Circassia of Siberia and some other Tartarian Provinces betwixt China and Muscovy THE Tartars of Dagesthan and Circassia inhabit that Country known to the Antients under the name of Albania which reaches all along the Shoar of the Caspian Sea from the end of the Desarts of Astrachan mentioned in the foregoing Chapter to the City of Derbent Circassia on the confines of Persia The Dagesthan Tartars are subject neither to the Persians nor Muscovites the Mountains which they inhabit serving them for a Fence against these two Potent Neighbours But the Circassian Tartars divided from the former by the River Bustro which Ptolomy calls Gerrus bordering upon the Kingdom of Astrachan and being subject to the Jurisdiction of the Grand Czar of Muscovy we will treat of them first taking our course from the great Desarts of Astrachan first to the River Bustro and from thence to the Frontiers of Persia The Country of Circassia is situate all along the coast of the Caspian Sea from the South-West to North-East encompassing it about in form of a Cressent and making a very spacious Bay The Circassians are possess'd of that Part of Albania which hath for its Frontiers on the East and West-side the Caspian Sea and Mount Caucasus and on the South and North the River Bustro and the Desarts of Astrachan Very few Historians whether Antient or Modern have made any mention of them some having assigned their Habitations beyond the Mount Caucasus near the Euxin Sea whereas they are more properly to be called the Caspian Sarmatians Their Capital City is Terki The City of Terki above 300 Miles from Astrachan by Land situate near three Miles from the Shoar of the Caspian Sea upon a small River called Timenski a Branch of the great River Bustro which being formerly called Terck has given the name to this City it is seated in a very spacious Plain very fenny towards the Sea-side under 43 deg 23 min. Elev It is in compass about two Miles well fortified with Ramparts and Bastions of Earth after the modern Way stor'd with Cannon and has always a considerable Garison in it of Muscovites under the Command of a Weywode the Tartarian Prince who resides here having 500 of them allow'd him for his Guard Since the Reduction of those Parts under the obedience of the Czars of Muscovy they have put in all Places of Strength not only their Garisons but also Governours Magistrates and Priests for the exercise of the
River Yamour to the Calmuck Tartars from whom they are however separated by great Desarts and border to the South-East and East upon Turquestan and China They are subdivided into three great Provinces each of them being under the Jurisdiction of its particular Chan or Taiso who are all three of the same Family and cultivate a very good Understanding betwixt one another having several Under Chans under their Jurisdiction The first and chiefest of these Chans is call'd Tchetchinga his Territories lie betwixt China and the Tartars of Bogdoi They inhabit neither Towns nor Villages their Houses which are but few in number lying scattered here and there without any regularity They are very troublesom to their Neighbours inhabiting about the Lake Dalai and all along the River Szelinga one of their Under Chans call'd Becroesain Territories bordering upon that River It is in the Territories of this Chan Tchetchinga that the Coutousta Lama or the Vicar of the Dalaè Lama has his Residence being respected here as the Patriarch of all the Monguls and adored almost like a Deity He follows them where-ever they ramble and it is to him they refer the decision of all their Differences these Tartars being naturally of a very mild and pliable Temper The second of the Principal Chans is called Octiervikan and the third D' Jan Gari but their Territories lying out of the way of Commerce and consequently being unfrequented by Strangers are nothing near so well known as the first They are very jealous of the Tartars of Bogdoi since they have made themselves Masters of China but these stand in little fear of them as having the Advantage of their Fire-Arms against them with the use of which the Monguls are altogether unacquainted and the Desarts betwixt them and the Calmucks or Calmuches serve for a Barrier to both Nations They keep a very good Correspondence with the Muscovites by reason of the Neighbourhood of Siberia where they drive a great Trade with the Muscovites especially in Cattle wherein their chiefest Wealth consists their Country being all over watered with a great number of small Rivers which all empty themselves into the River Szelinga and render their Meadows extreamly fertile and â—it for Pasturage The Tartars of Bogdoi Tartars of Bogdoi by the Chineses called the Eastern Tartars inhabit a vast Country divided under the Jurisdiction of several Chans or Tayso's but the Province called Diutchari by the Muscovites whose Inhabitants conquerâ—d China makes them the most Famous of all the rest of the Tartars This Province lies betwixt the Eastern Seas and the two great Rivers Chingala and Yamour They were formerly so inconsiderable as to be Tributaries to the Chineses till they made themselves both known and fear'd by subduing six of the Chinese Provinces and would in all likelihood have soon made themselves Masters of the whole Empire at that time had not the Chineses call'd in to their Aid the Yousbecks who having expell'd the Tartars of Bogdoi did not only settle themselves there but also put upon the Throne the Family of Ivena which having sway'd the Scepter of this spacious Empire till the Year 1368 was expell'd by the Chineses and the Imperial Diadem bestow'd upon the Family of Tayminga After this Family had reign'd very peaceably for near the space of 300 Years the same Diutchari or Bogdoi Tartars in the Year 1644 re-entred China with a vast Army and at last reduced the whole Empire under their Obedience The first Emperour of the Tartarian Race was Chunchi their Prince the Chief of the Family of Taitsingva who reigns at present in China The Tartars of Bogdoi as also the Inhabitants of the Province Dauri are not near so rich in Cattle as the Monguls their Horses being but very small and never Shoo'd by their Owners but they drive a considerable Trade in Sables and black Foxes Skins as also in Rubies and Pearls which the Rivers Argus Yamour and Chingala afford them Their Houses are built of nothing but Earth and they resemble both in their Stature and Faces most of the Europaean Tartars but especially those of Crim except that they are much more civilised by reason of their continual Commerce with the Chineses Their Speech and the Characters they make use of have a very near resemblance to the Vulgar Dialect of the Persians but they have above sixty Letters in their Alphabet and write and read from the top downward like the Chineses They scarce profess any certain Religion but wear most of them Crosses which they keep in great Veneration and are great Enemies of the Mahometans Both Guns and Gun-powder is in use among them but not so frequently neither with the same Dexterity as in Europe they having not attain'd to the same perfection in the Composition of the latter so that it being but of little Strength and their Great Artillery which is very indifferently cast not very suitable to their rambling way of living they more frequently make use of the same Arms as the rest of the Tartars Besides these three different Sorts of Tartars we have spoken of there are several others as the Tostiouski Watski or Vigulci Barbanski or Scibanski Tyrgyski Tingoesi and others who inhabit about the Lakes and all along the Rivers between Siberia and the Tartars of Mongul They most of them agree in Physiognomy and Language with the Calmuck Tartars so that in all probability they are so many separate Hordes formerly belonging to that Nation but by conversation and trading with the Muscovites at last brought over to the Jurisdiction of the Russian Empire The Tingoeses were first discovered to the Russians Tingoeses in the Year 1605 when some of the Muscovite Hunters guided by some Siberian Tartars and a few Samoyedes of whom we shall speak at large in the following Chapter after having pass'd many Rivers and several Desarts came at last to a River called Jenissay where the Muscovites have since built a City of the same name exceeding in bigness the River Oby it self which having on the East high Mountains some of which cast out Fire and on the West very fertile Plains these were the Habitations of the Tingoesi living in wretched Cottages disposed into several small Hordes or Companies The River overflows the adjacent Plains in the Spring during which time the Inhabitants retire into the Mountains and return to the Plains with their Cattle as soon as the Waters are fall'n They found them of a very gentle and mild Disposition having at the persuasion of the Samoyedes soon submitted themselves to the Muscovian Government but what is very observable is that these Tartarians have great swoln Throats like in Italy the Inhabitants under the Alpes All the Tartars in those Parts are of a swarthy Complexion inclining to an Olive colour They have broad Faces flat below but rising on the upper-part their Eyes very small but brisk and sparkling they have very short and flat Noses wearing a little Hair upon their
the absolute Power they have over their Subjects Lives and Fortunes they may be parallel'd at least if not preferr'd to the Emperour of the Turks CHAP. II. Of the Southern Muscovy in particular with a Description of its Chief Cities MVscovy as has been mentioned in the foregoing Chapter being commonly divided into four Parts viz. in the two Northern Parts bordering on Sweden and Tartary the Southern Muscovy and the Tartarian Kingdoms under the Obedience of the Russian Empire we will in this Chapter treat of the Southern Muscovy in particular reserving its more Northern Provinces to the following and the Description of the Tartarian Kingdoms of Astrachan Casan Siberia and other Tartarian Countries Muscovy prâ—pâ—â—ly so called to the Fourth and Fifth Chapters The Southern Muscovy comprehends ten Provinces The first is the Province of Muscovy properly so called which has communicated its Name to the whole Empire it is a flat Country beautified with great store of Forests most of them of Firrs and Beech-trees Lakes and Rivers abounding in every thing requisite for the Sustenance of Human Life the Forests abounding with Honey and all sorts of Game as the Plains do with Grass and Corn and the Rivers and Lakes furnish the whole Country with a prodigious quantity of all soâ—ts of Fish except Carps which are not to be found here or if they are in some places they eat harsh and are quite neglected in a Country where they have such store of the best Fish in the World The Capital City of this Province is Musco A Description of the City of Musco the Metropolis of the whole Empire to which it has given its Name as it has derived its own from the River Moska which passes through and divides that part of the City called Strelitza Slaâ—oda from the rest and after having received the two small Rivers of Neglina and Yagusa and joined its Current with the River Occa falls afterwards into the great River Wolga It is situated in a very fair Plain betwixt the three above-mentioned Rivers its Figure is almost Circular containing in its Circumference Fifteen or Sixteen Miles at least tho' by reason of the Conflagrations which frequently happen in this City both its form and extent do not continue many Years in the same condition It lies almost in the Centre of the whole Empire being at an equal distance from the Frontiers which on either side are above 600 Miles It s Elevation is 55 Degrees and 36 Min. Latitude Its Longitude 66 Degrees Before the Crim Tartars in the Year 1571 destroyed it and the Poles burnt it to the Ground all but the Castle in the Year 1611. it was doubtless much bigger than it is now nevertheless there being by computation numbred near â—0000 Houses â—0000 this with the largeness of its Streets and the Intervals betwixt the Houses makes it one of the greatest and most considerable tho' not the most Populous Cities of Europe The City of Musco like most of all the other Towns in Muscovy is built all of Wood except the Palaces of Persons of the first Rank some Churches and Chappels and the Houses of some very Rich Merchants which are of Brick or Stone it being the general Custom throughout all Muscovy to build their â—ouses of Wood made up of Beams and Cross-pieces of Firr laid and joyned one upon another the vacuities being fill'd up with Moss they are covered with Barks of Trees upon which they sometimes lay another covering of Turffs the better to defend themselves against the Injuries of the Winter-Season The Streets of the City of Musco are very spacious and handsom enough in dry Weather but after the least Rain very dirty and would for some time of the Year be rendred quite unpassable were it not for the great quantity of Firr Posts which being laid cross the Streets like a Bridge serve instead of a Pavement The combustible Matter of which their Houses are composed together with the carelessness and disorderly House-keeping of the Muscovites they being much given to Drunkenness makes their Houses very subject to the mischances of Fire In the City of Musco there are certain Intervals left from place to place and the sooner to quench the fury of the Flames the Guards and Watch in the Night-time carry Poll-axes wherewith they instantly break down the next adjoyning Houses to those that are on fire Notwithstanding all these precautions there is seldom a Week without some damage done by Fire which however the Muscovites are the less disturbed at by how much more common it is and may be repaired without any considerable Loss to the Owners their Furniture consisting commonly of a few Benches only which also serve instead of Beds and some Earthen or Wooden Dishes And as for their Houses they are almost as soon repaired as lost there being a certain Market without the white Wall of this City where at a very easie rate Wood being so over-plenty in this Country they buy a House of what bigness they please ready built which in a little time is taken down and transported to the Place where the other House stood before The whole Body of this great City is divided into four distinct Quarters or Circuits Musco divided into four Quarters The first which the Muscovites call Cataygorod or the Mid-City Cataygorod or the Mid-City is situated in the centre of the others being divided from the rest by a Brick Wall called Cresne Stenna or red Stone and surrounded almost by the two Rivers of Mosca and Neglina the first passing by it on the South and joyning with the latter on the North-side behind the Castle The Castle of Musco The Castle of the Grand Dukes called Cremelena by the Russians takes up near one half of it being at least two Miles in circumference and very well fortified with a triple strong Wall very well mounted with Cannon and strengthened by a very good Ditch The Palace it self stands at the further end of the Castle next adjoyning to that of the Patriarch being built of Stone after the Italian manner about Fifty Years ago notwithstanding which the Czars used during the Winter-Season to eat and to sleep in some Apartments made of Wood as being less moist than the others Besides that there are several Boyars who have great Places at Court and live within the Castle in very fair Houses of Stone there are several Convents of Monks and Nuns and near Fifty Churches and Chappels of Stone the chiefest of which are those of St. Mary's St. Nicholas and that of St. Michael Famous for the Tombs of the Great Dukes of Russia Among a great many other Steeples which adorn these Churches and are all covered with Copper â—nd large Crosses gilt on the top of them which â—eing burnished by the heat of the Sun gives them 〈◊〉 Resemblance of Gold at a distance two are most â—articularly worth taking notice of being both in â—he centre of the Castle The first called
Juan â—elike or Great John was built by Czar John Basiâ—vitz standing by it self covered with Copper â—ilt its height being computed to be near the same â—ith that of St. Mark 's in Venice The second is â—nly Remarkable for its Great Bell which being â—ot to be managed but by the hands of Thirty Men 〈◊〉 seldom made use of but on great Festivals and 〈◊〉 honour the Entrance or Audience of a great Amâ—assador There are also within the compass of â—e Castle kept several of the Courts of Justice â—e Exchequer and the Grand Magazine of Proâ—â—sion and Ammunition Immediately without the â—ates of the Castle Walls is a very fair Church on â—â—e South side called St. Trinity or Jerusalem â—hich appeared so extraordinary a piece of Archiâ—â—cture to that great Tyrant John Basilovits that as soon as it was finish'd he caused the Architect's Eyes to be pull'd out to prevent his attempting any thing like it hereafter The Castle is faced by a very fair spacious Place the chief Market of the whole City and place of Resort not only for Buyers but for Persons of all degrees eve◠〈◊〉 the very Slaves The midst of it is taken up for the most part with Sempstresses Shops and 〈◊〉 store of other Women-Traders who 〈…〉 of selling Rings set with Rubies and 〈…〉 endeavour to vend their hidden 〈…〉 But what is the most regular and beautiful is that each particular Street leading to this Market-place has a certain Trade allotted by it self so that the Merceâ— does not intermingle with the Woollen-Draper noâ— the Linnen-Draper with the Goldsmith Furrieâ— Taylor or Shooemaker but every Trade having its proper Station the Buyer may with the greatest conveniency in the World in an instant cast his Eyes upon such Commodities as will serve his occasion It ought not to be forgotten here that the Painters have none of the meanest Station among the rest here for their Employment being to furnish the Muscovites with the Images of Saints they deal with their Chapmen by way of Exchange or Trucking where they are sure to make their own Market for a Muscâ—vite looking upon it as a point of Conscience to buy or bargain for a Saint seldom refuseâ— the Painter's demand The remaining part of this inner Circuit or Quarter of the City is taken up with the Houses of the Principal Merchants besides thâ—se of some Knâ—z and Muscovian Lords The Second Quarter Czaargorod or the Royal City which includes the First iâ— a Semicircle is called Czaargorod or the City Royal the little River Neglina passes through it being enclosed in a particular Wall called Biela Stenna oâ— the White Wall Here is the Arsenal and the Place called Poggana appointed for the Casting of Gunâ— and Bells in which the Muscovites are not behindâ— hand with any other European Artificers In thâ—â— part also live a great many Knâ—z Lords and Gentlemen besides a prodigious number of Traders of all sorts the rest is fill'd up with Butchers Bakers Drinking-Houses Corn-Chandlers Meal-shops and the Grand Duke's Stables The Third Quarter which running from the East all along the North-side to the West The Third Quarter of Musco called Skoradom includes the Quarter of Czaargorod is called Skoradom the little River Jagusa runs through it and afterwards falls into the River Mosca In this Quarter is the above-mentioned place for selling and buying of Houses The Fourth and Last Circuit is that called Strelitza Slavoda The fourth Quarter called â—trelitza Slavoda or the Suburbs of the Musqueteers belonging to the Great Duke's Guards who have this part of the Town assigned them for their Place of Abode It lies on the other side of the River Mosca Southly from that part of the City called Cataygorod its Ramparts and Bastions being all of Wood were design'd against the Irruptions of the Tartars Musco is inhabited not only by Muscovites but also by a great number of Tartars Persians and Greeks the latter being most agreeable to the Muscovites both in Religion and Manners are preferr'd by them before all other Strangers They allow nevertheless the publick Exercise of Religious Worship not only to the Lutherans and other Protestants but also to the Turks Persians and Tartars except the Jews and formerly the Roman Catholicks There is a large Slaboda or Suburb without the City Gate of Prokoski The Suburb called Nova Inasemska Slaboda called Nova Inasemska Slaboda where most of the Foreign Christians live together every one according to their own Country Fashion in which place the Germans English and Dutch c. do most commonly reside Besides the Grand Duke's Palace and the Castle that which appears most beautiful to the Eyes of Strangers is the great number of Churches and Chappels in the City and Suburbs of Musco of which their being Two Thousond in number every Lord having his private Chappel and each Street one at least some two or three built of Stone and of a Circular Figure whose Steeples being all covered with Copper make a most glorious glittering show at a distance especially if you happen to approach the Town in a bright Sun-shiny day The next City of Note in this Province is called Columna Columna situated on the right side of the River Mosca about 70 English Miles distance from the City of Musco by Land it being near Sevenscore Miles by Water It is of a considerable bigness and environ'd with a very fair Stone Wall and Towers a thing not very common in Muscovy it is the Residence of a Weywode or Russian Governour which shews it to be one of the most considerable of the Province It is to be observed that there is but one Bishop in all Muscovy who keeps his Residence in this City But what is most Remarkable here is that about three Miles above this Place near the Convent of Kolutin Serge Monarstir founded by one Sergius a great Saint among the Muscovites The River Occa. The Mosca falls into the River Occa which coming from the South is not only much largeâ— and broader than the former but having besideâ— that on both sides a Noble Country very populouâ— and fruitful and a great number of fair Oaks oâ— both shores which are look'd upon as a Rarity 〈◊〉 Muscovy renders it the most delightful in the World Two days Journey from Columna near the Borders of the Province of Rhesan is the City of Peresla or Preski seated upon the very Banks of the River Occa at 42 Degrees 42 min. Elevation being governed by its particular Weywode or Governour There are also in this Province some otherâ— less considerable which for brevity's sake we must pass by in silence The second Province of the Southern Muscovy 〈◊〉 the Province of Werotin Werotin having borrowed its Name from the Capital City of the same Name besides which it has two Cities more the first called Croom the latter Arvel all three of them so inconsiderable as not to deserve a particular Description here
The third Province is the Dukedom of Rhesan betwixt the two Rivers of Don and Occa lying Southward from Muscovy Rhesan from which it is divided by the River Aka being one of the most fruitful Provinces of all Muscovy abounding in Wheat Honey Fish and all manner of Venison and Fowl Its Capital City is called likewise Rhesan formerly a very considerable Place which had given its name to the whole Province but was in the Year 1568 totally destroyed as was the greatest part of that Dukedom by the Crim-Tartars The Great Duke having taken into Consideration the Fertility of the Country all along the River Occa which from thence extends its self to that great Trench which serves for a Fence against the irruptions of those Barbarians on that side and having got together the dispersed Inhabitants and furnished them with Materials he ordered the building of a new City at forty Miles distance from the former which is called Peresla Resanski because a great many Inhabitants of the City of Peresla heretofore mentioned came hither to settle themselves Notwithstanding which the old City of Rhesan retains to this day the Honour of being the Seat of an Arch-Bishop Besides which this Province has also the Cities of Domkagorod Corsira and Tulla the latter being situated upon a River of the same Name The fourth is the Province of Wolodimer Wolâ—dimer formerly the Chiefest of whole Muscovy The Capital City had its name from its first Founder Prince Wolodimer who lived in the Year 928 and was from â—hence communicated to the whole Province which â—e situated in the most fruitful Country of all Musâ—ovy above 150 Miles Eastward from Musco beâ—ween the two Rivers of Occa and Wolga This City which is situated near the River Clesna was â—or a considerable time the Residence of the Great Dukes of Muscovy till the Imperial Seat was transferr'd to Musco by Prince Danilou Michâ—elovits since which time it is much decayed from its former Splendor the Ruins of its Walls and Houses being undeniable demonstrations of its former Greatness Unto this Province are annexed the two Tartarian Principalities of Cassinou and Mordwa Cassinou and Mordwa The Capital City of the first is Cassinogord situated on the right side of the River Occa as one comes from Musco surrounded with a great many goodly Villages and Monasteries most pleasantly seated among the Woods The chief City of the second is Moruma being inhabited partly by Muscovites partly by Tartars but altogether under the Subjection of the Grand Duke It is situated on the left side of the River Occa the River Clesna which comes from Wolodimer falls into it at about 10 or 12 Miles distance The fifth Province is Nisenovogorod Nisâ—â—ovogorod having received its Name as most others in this Country from its Capital City called Nisenovogorod Thâ—â— City being built at the conflux of the two Greâ— Rivers Occa and Wolga at 56 degrees 28 min. neâ—â— 500 Miles distant from the City of Musco by Land and above 700 by Water received its Name from the Famous City of Novogorod the Inhabiâ—ants 〈◊〉 which were by Order from the Great Duke Basâ—â—â— translated to this Place It is true it falls far shoâ—â— in bigness of what the City of Novogorod was 〈◊〉 former Ages nevertheless it has very strong Towers and Walls of Stone and the Suburbs exceed 〈◊〉 bigness the City it self being near three Miles 〈◊〉 circumference and inhabited by Tartars Muscovites and some Dutch the most of them Merchants the latter of which have here a Protestaâ—â— Church whereas the City is for the most part take up with Military Officers Victuallers Sutlers â—â— being all under the Government of a Weywode Thâ— next City in this Province is Basiligorod built like wise by the Great Duke Basili who gave it 〈◊〉 Name and made it a Frontier-place against the Incursions of the Tartars called Ceremisses of whoâ— we shall have occasion to speak immediately It 〈◊〉 situated at 55 deg 51 min. at the foot of a Mountain on the right side of the Volga to reckon from its source the same being to be understood from all the other places mentioned in this Treatise at the falling in of the small River Sura heretofore the common Boundary betwixt the Muscovites and the Tartars of Casan Since the Muscovites have extended their Conquests over the Tartars on that side even to the Caspian Sea this place has been neglected its Walls being quite ruined and its Edifices altogether of Wood it resembles now more a great Village than a City The Tartars Ceremisses The Tartars Ceremisses whom we mentioned just now having their Habitation on both sides of the River Wolga betwixt this place and the Kingdom of Casan it will not be amiss to give a short Account of them in this Place They are a Nation barbarous treacherous and cruel living upon Robbery and addicted to Sorcery Their Food is Honey and wild Fowl they take in the Woods and Milk which their Pastures furnish them with they 〈◊〉 not inhabit Houses but most wretched Huts Those that live on the right side of the River Wolâ—a are called Nagorni or Mountaineers as those â—nhabiting on the left side are called Lugoivi from â—heir Meadows which supply them on both â—ides of the River with Hay They are generally â—peaking Heathens using neither Circumcision â—or Baptism They give a Child its Name from â—he first Person they meet that Day when this â—eremony is to be performed which is six Months â—fter its Birth They acknowledge an Immortal â—od the Author of all Good who ought to be â—dor'd but ridicule the Immortality of the Soul â—ho ' they do not believe a Hell they dread the â—evil as the Author of all their Misfortunes â—hom therefore they pretend to appease with Saâ—ifices Their chief Devotion and Pilgrimages â—hich they do to the Devil is performed at a place â—â—lled Nemda amongst the Fenns where every body 〈◊〉 obliged to carry a Present When they Offer â—â—eir Sacrifices to God they kill a Hoâ—se an Ox or a Sheep some of the Flesh thereof being roasted and put into a Dish and holding in the other Hand another Vessel fill'd with Hydromel or some other Liquor both is cast into a Fire made for that purpose before the Skin of the Creature that is Sacrificed being extended upon a Pole laid a crosâ— two Trees This Skin they adore in order to interceed for them with God unto whom they also make sometimes their Address the whole Subject of their Devotion tending to some Conveniency 〈◊〉 another of this Life but most commonly to the augmenting the number of their Cattle They pay a great Veneration even to Adoration to the Suâ— and Moon whom they believe the Authors of the Productions of the Earth They make use of no Churches Priests or Books their Sacrifices and other religious Exercises being performed near somâ— Torrent or another Polygamy is used amongâ— them even so as to Marry two or
At Forty Miles distance from hence The 〈◊〉 Branch oâ— the Wolga the River Wolga casts out its second Branch on the left side called Achtobenisna Vtsga which afterwards joyns with the Branch called Achtobska which we mentioned before From this Place down on both sides of the River as far as Astrachan there grows a prodigious quantity of Liquorice of a very large size Liquâ—rice its stalks being as thick as a lusty Man's Arm and sometimes above four Foot high the Seeds lying in Cods upon the stalks yet is this inferiour both in bigness and sweetness to that which grows in Asia near the River of Araxes Twenty Miles lower is the City of Szornogar seated on the right side of the River upon a high Shoar near a vast Plain without any Trees or Eminencies its form is four-square fortified with Wooden Towers and Ramparts it serves for a Frontier-Garison against the Tartars and Cosacks About 120 Miles hence is the Mountainâ— oâ— Polowon so called because half way betwixt Zariza before-mentioned and Astrachan Not many Miles lower is a third Branch of the Volga Third and fourth Branch of the Volga called Buchwâ—stova which falls into the two precedents And Twenty Miles from thence the River Wolga makes a fourth Branch on the left side of it called Danitoska Vtsga which does not mingle with any of the other three but disembogues by a particular Channel into the Caspian Sea Near 60 Miles on this side of Astrachan The fifth Branch of the Wolga is the fifth Branch of the Volga called Mituska which at some distance from the main River being again divided into two less Branches the one is united with the Danilofska Vtsga just now mentioned the other after having continued its course for some Miles falls again into the main River Five and twenty Miles on this side of Astrachan is the Isle of Busan The sixth and seventh Branch of the Volga Ten Miles below which is the sixth Branch of the River Wolga called Baltzick as is three Miles lower the seventh called Knilusse which makes the Isle of Dilgoi within which the City of Astrachan is seated And after having encompass'd this Island it falls by several Channels into the Caspian Sea The City of Astrachan is situate upon the utmost Boâ—ders betwixt Europe and Asia The City of Astrachan in this place divided by the River Volga It is seated on the River side in the Isle of Dilgoi made there by the two Branches of the River as has been said before under the Elevation of 26 deg 22 min. It is of a câ—nsiderable bigness and now all inhabited by Muscovites the Inhabitants of the Country being Tartars who are not permitted to live within the compass of the Walls which is 8000 Geometrical Feet about but in the adjacent Suburbs which are fenc'd in only with Pallisadoes The Fortificationâ— are all very high and of Stone which at a distance make a very gallant appearance especially towards the River-side by reason of a great number of Turrets and Steeples of Stone but the Houses within the City being all built of Wood and very low its inside does not appear answerable to the rest There is accounted to be a great Artillery in this place of 500 Brass Cannon and Mortars proportionable The Garrison in time of Peace commonly amounts to 5000 Men under the Command of two Weywodes and other Officers This City being seated upon the Confines of the two most considerable Parts of the World it must needs be a Place of great Commerce it being besides the Muscovites frequented not only by the Neighbouring Tartars but also by the Persians Armenians and Indians the last of which have a particular place assigned them within the City It was taken by Assault in the Year 1554. by the Great Duke John Basilovits who having two Years before conquer'd the Tartars of Casan turn'd his Arms against those of Nagaja then inhabiting this City and the Country round about it Having secured his Conquest over them by taking their Capital City he surrounded it with a strong Wall and the Czar Michael Federovits added to it besides some new Fortifications that part of the City which is called Strâ—litzagorod or the City of Soldiers they having their Quarters assigned them in this part of the City But before we leave this Kingdom it will not be beyond our purpose to give a short Description both of the Country and its Inhabitants It is past all question that the Tartars were unknown to the Antient Geographers The Tarâ—ars of 〈…〉 which were by them comprehended under the general Name of Scythians and Sarmatians tho' it be manifest that the Tartars consist of several Nations distinguish'd in their Names Language and manner of Life Those of Nagaja with the Tartars of Casan before mentioned and some others betwixt the River Wolga and the Don or Tanais are said to have been Indians who having revolted from their 〈◊〉 did about the Year 1212. settle themselves near the Euxine Sea upon the Palus Meotides the Place of Habitation of the Antient Getae from whence they extended their Conquests first to the River Don and from thence at last to the Wolga near which they inhabit to this day Those of Nagaja of whom we are to treat at present are seated betwixt the two Rivers of Wolga and Jaika as far as the Caspian Sea The City of Astrachan is their principal City built as they say by a Tartar King whose Name being Astra-Chan gave it the Name of Astrachan Before this Country was conquered by the Muscovites it was inhabited altogether by Tartars but now the latter are not permitted to abide in the Capital City or to build any new ones nor to fortifie their Towns or Villages with Walls They live for the most part in Huts made of Bull-rushes or Canes Their manner of Living which are commonly round seldom exceeding twelve or thirteen English Yards in compass on the top of which they have holes most like our Chicken-coops serving them instead of Chimneys nevertheless the least of these Huts has a Faulcon or Hawk the Tartars being great Masters in this Sport The Muscovites call these Nagajan Tartars Polutski or Vagabonds as having no fixt Habitation in the Summer when they ramble up and down according as they meet with the best conveniency for their Cattle which beginning to fail in one place their Huts are put into Carts and their Wives Children and Goods upon Camels Horses or Oxen and so removed to another Towards the Winter they begin to reassemble and to live in several Troops near Astrachan where being furnish'd with Arms by the Muscovites which however after the Frosty Season is past they are obliged to redeliver not being otherwise permitted to have any Arms either Defensive or Offensive they stand upon their Mutual Defence against the Malmuck Tartars and those Inhabiting upon the River Jaika They pay no Tribute to the Grand Czar but are obliged to serve him
Christian Religion Notwithstanding this the Circassian Tartars are Govern'd by their own Princes Lords and Judges who administer Justice in the Czar's Name and in Matters of Importance not without the Presence of the Weywode or Russian Governour being all obliged to take the Oath of Allegiance to his Czarish Majesty The Men are not unlike the Nagajan Tartars but not so broad-fac'd their Hair is black and long their Complexion yellowish they shave the midst of their Heads from the Forehead to the Neck leaving a small Lock at the Crown The Women here are excellently well shap'd have noâ— only good Lineaments in their Faces but also of a clear and smooth Complexion which with their black Hair hanging down in two Tresses on both sides of their Faces makes them appear very agreeable The Circassian Tartars are less barbarous than those of Dagesthan having in some measure abated from their former Barbarism The Habiâ— of the Circassians since their conversing with Christians The Mens Apparel is near the same with the Nagajans their Caps being only something larger their Cloaks being likewise of coarse Cloath or Sheep-Skins fastn'd only at the Neck with a String which being not large enough to cover the whole body they turn it according to the Wind and Weather The Women wear about their Heads a black Coif cover'd with a fine white Cloath ty'd under the Chin. The Widdows have hanging in their Necks an Ox-bladder full blown covered with a piece of Cotton of several colours The Women wear all of them during the Summer nothing but a Smock of divers colours which being cut so deep before that one may see down below their Navels and their Faces being always uncovered contrary to the Custom of those Parts this with their good Humour and Familiarity they use in Conversation makes them very desirable notwithstanding which they have acquired the Reputation of being very chaste tho' they seldom want Opportunity of hornifying their husbands it being look'd upon as a piece of common Manners among them in a Husband to go out of the doors as soon as any body comes to speak with his Wife so that whether this Continency of theirs be founded upon their own Generosity to recompence their Husbands for the Confidence they put in them or more upon Fame than real Truth we will not pretend to determine in this Place Their Language they have common with the other Neighbouring Tartars tho' the chief among them are also not ignorant of the Muscovian They are Pagans for tho' the Ceremony of Circumcision is received among them yet have they neither Priests Aâ—choran or Churches like other Mahometans Every one here offers his own Sacrifice at pleasure for which they have some certain Days established rather by Custom than any positive Commands The most Solemn Sacrifices they offer at the Death of their nearest Friends especially if they be of an Eminent Rank among them Upon such an Occasion both Men and Women meet in the Field to be present at the performance of the Sacrifice which is a He-Goat The first thing they do is to cut off its Privy Members which they cast against a Wall and if they stick against it the Goat is judged fit to Sacrifice if not they are obliged to kill another till such time they are satisfied in its fitness by the before-mentioned Tryal Then they proceed with the Ceremonies fleaing it and stretching the Skin with the Head and Horns on upon a Cross on the top of a long Pole planted commonly in a Quick-set â—edge to keep the Cattle from it Near this the Sacrifice is offered by boyling and roasting the Flesh which they afterwards eat The Feast being over the Men rise and after having adored the Skin and muttered out certain Prayers the Women withdraw and the Men conclude the whole with drinking good store of Aqua-vitae generally to that degree that they seldom part without being as drunk as Beasts and sometimes not without fighting They are very Ceremonious in their Burials and adorn their Sepulchres with Pillars Over those of Persons of Quality they build certain little Houses but only of Wood the Boards whereof are commonly painted of several colours and placed Chequer-wise upon the Roof of which are to be seen some Statues but very mean and sometime some Pictures poorly done representing commonly the Hunting of some Wild Beast or another The Tartars of Dagesthan inhabit now adays that part of Albania Tartars of Dagesthan from whence Thalestris the famous Queen of the Amazons came to give a Visit to Alexander the Great in Hyrcania to obtain that Kindness which Ladies tho' never so desirous of seldom care to beg They inhabit a Tract of Ground of above 200 Miles all along the Caspian Sea-shore from the City of Derbent the utmost Frontier-Town of Persia on that side extending Northward as far as to the River Bustro near the City of Terki the Capital of Circassia They are called Dagesthan or Mountain Tartars from the Word Dag which signifies in their Language as much as a Mountain because they live between the Mountains and in the Plains at the foot of these Mountains which are very fruitful and pleasant except it be towards the Sea-side where it is all Heathy and Barren These Tartars are generally of a tawny dark Complexion Their Shape enclining to black they are very strong and well-set in their Limbs but very ugly in their Faces having long black Hair hanging down over their Shoulders The Women wear the Hair ty'd up in a great many Tresses which hang down about their Heads much after the manner of the Persians but are not kept so much under Restraint having their Faces uncovered and not being shy of being seen by Strangers Those who live towards the Northern part of this Province are called Kaitack as those that inhabit the more Western Parts are called Kamuck Their Form of Government is that which is most worth Observation Their Government it having a great Resemblance with those which in very Antient Times were established in the Western Parts of Europe For the whole Country is divided into a great many Petty Lordships each of them under the Jurisdiction of its proper Lord or Myrsa who tho' Hereditary is nevertheless not Absolute but his Authority controuled by that of some of the chief Men among them All these Petty Lords acknowledge one whom they call Schemkal for their Supream Head He succeeds not by Inheritance but by Election For after the Death of a Schemkal all these Petty Lords or Myrsa's meet and being set down in a Ring one of their Priests casts a Golden Apple among them the first Person which is touch'd by this Apple is their Schemkal to whom by common consent they pay their Respect but no absolute Obedience They are generally very Barbarous Savage and Mischievous living most upon Robberies and exacting Contributions from the Caravans that pass that way from Persia A great part of their Livelihood
of the first whose dead Body is carefully concealed is set up in his Room and declared to be the same Dalaè-Lama but only renewed in his Person and this Impostor is the more difficult to be discovered by the common People they being but rarely allow'd to see this High Priest unless it be at a distance when he gives them his Benediction I cannot but take notice here of the Opinion Preste Jean which some that have of late years travell'd into those Parts have conceived of this Dalaè-Lama to wit That he is that same Preste Jean who has made so much noise in the World and has been so variously represented by Historians Thus much is certain that if every thing be duely weighed as it ought to be concerning the Title and other Things which by many Authors are attributed to their Preste Jean the same may in most points be said of this Dalaè-Lama so that I see no reason why we may not with more Justice place him in Asia than these Authors have lookâ—d for him in Abyssina where with all their Endeavours and Shifts they have never been able to find him out hitherto The Portugeses were the first that received and afterwards communicated this erroneous Opinion to the rest of Europe it being certain that the more anâ—ient Authors who have made any mention of this Preste Jean have placed him always in Asia though they have differed both as to his Name and place of Residence And thus far Baltazar Tellez Nicolas Godigno and some others who have been for a considerable time resident in Ethiopia and consequently had the better Opportunity to be inform'd concerning this Matter agree with the Antients that this Preste Jeen is not to be heard of in those Parts The Portugeses were first led into this Error by one Pieter de Coulan who being sent by their King John II. to discover the East-Indies by Land after having traversed a great part of Asia and the Indies could not hear the least Tidings there of this so Famous Preste Jean But in his return homeward coming to Cairo was inform'd that in Ethiopia there was a very Potent Prince who was a declared Protector of the Christians having always a Cross carried before him This Relation agreeing in a great measure with what had been published before concerning Preste Jean was the sooner received as Authentick first in Portugal and afterwards all over Europe The Jesuit â— Kirker has shewn us out of the Latin Chronology of the Kings of Abyssina That there is not the least mention made there of this Preste Jean and if we search narrowly into the Antient Authors that have had occasion to speak 〈◊〉 him we shall find that the greatest part of them have placed him betwixt the Country of the Monguls and China tho' perhaps in several Provinces which difference might perhaps arise from thence that in former Ages this Preste Jean had his several Vicars as the Dalaè-Lama has now which might be taken by some for the Head it self St. Antonius in the third Tome of his History places this Preste Jean in the Greater or Vpper India from whence he says he drove back the Tartars that invaded the Christians in those Parts Those who have assign'd him his Reign in Kitay have questionless comprehended that vast Country situate betwixt the Rivers of Volga and the Oby as far as China under that Name as the Muscovites do to this day especially since Marcus Paulus Venetus who resided several Years with the Great Chan of the Tartars places Preste Jean in the same Kingdom of Tanchut where the Dalaè-Lama has his Residence to this day Both the Antient and Modern Authors have been strangely puzzled in finding out the true Etymology of the Word Preste Jean but in my Opinion that of Scaliger is the most probable who derives it from the Persian Word Prestegiani which signifies as much as Apostolick and might easily by Corruption be transformed into Preste Jean by such of the Europaeans as did not understand its true signification There is but two Objections of any moment to be made against this Assertion The first is that the same Preste Jean who is so much celebrated throughout Europe and his Subjects were Christians whereas the People Inhabiting now adays the Great Tartary are Idolaters The second is that Preste Jean was a Temporal Prince As to the first it is to be observed that tho' at present that vast Country is altogether possess'd by Infidels or Pagans nevertheless it is very probable that in more Antient Times the Christian Religion was introduced into those Parts as well as others and continued there for a considerable time there being certain Remnants of Christianity to be met with to this day among some of its Inhabitants There is a Country in those Parts called by the Moors in derision Kiaferstan that is The Country of the Infidels the Inhabitants of which are called to this day Christians of St. Thomas and tho' no Christians now yet have retain'd Baptism for their Children have painted Crosses in their Churches and bear three Red Crosses made with the Tincture of Sanders-Wood in their Foreheads I think it is almost beyond question that in the thirteenth Age there was a vast number of Christians in Tartary their Emperor Cublai having embraced the Christian Religion and his Brother waged War with great Success against the Caliph of Babylon and other Infidels In the fourteenth Age several of Franciscan Monks who were sent to the Great Chan converted in the Kingdom of Thibet which is next to that of Tanchut a great number of Pagans and it is Remarkable what F. Andrada a Portugese Jesuit relates That in the Year 1624. when he travell'd in those Parts he found among the Inhabitants some corrupted Idea's of Christianity as a certain sort of Confession of that Christian Faith their Ancestors had profess'd in former Ages And I think it no less worth Observation that this Dalaè or High-Priest of the Tartarian bears the Name of Lama which in the Tartarian Language signifies a Cross and that the Tartars of Bogdoi who acknowledge among the rest the Authority of this Dalaè wear always Crosses about them which they call Lama's and keep them with a great deal of Reverence As to the second Objection of this Dalaè not being a Temporal Prince now this may be ascribed to the Wars and Revolutions of a Country inhabited by several distinct Nations so as being first corrupted and at last quite degenerated from their Antient Religion into a Barbarous Idolatry and thereby the whole face of Affairs changed this Successor of Preste Jean from being a Monarch might become the Head of a New Religion or rather Idolatry But Tartars of Mongul it is time after this Digression to proceed in the Description of the Tartarian Provinces between Muscovy and China and among them to the Tartars of Mongul These Tartars inhabit a very large Tract of Ground from the Western sources of the
the Archbishop of Riga and the Coadjutor of the Order of Livonia had made a League Defensive with Sigismund Augustus King of Poland unto whom they had promised 300000 l. Sterling towards the defraying the Charges of the War and for his Security had engaged several Bailywicks But the King of Poland being sensible of the extream danger they were in and how the City of Revel and the Province of Esthonie or Esthland had been forced to submit themselves to the Crown of Sweden refused to execute the Treaties unless they would follow the Example of the rest of Livonia and submit themselves upon the same terms to the Crown of Poland as they had done to Sweden Being therefore reduced to an absolute necessity of chusing the least Evil the Archbishop and Master of the Order were forced to Surrender all the Acts and Charters they had obtained from the Emperour and Pope into the Hands of Prince Radzivil who in the King of Poland's Name received also from them the Oath of Fidelity The King of Poland gave the Title of Duke with the Country of Gourland to the Master of the Livonian Order as we have said before in the Description of Courland in the Year 1562. And Twenty Years after to wit in the Year 1582. by vertue of a Peace concluded with the Muscovites the Poles got into Possession of the whole Livonia except that part of Esthonie which had surrendred to the Swedes who by degrees got all the rest from the Poles which was entirely resign'd to them in the Year 1666. by the Treaty of Peace made betwixt these two Crowns in the Monastery of Oliva near Dantzick The Country of Livonia is very fertile but especially in Wheat abounding in all sorts of Cattle Fowl and Venison an Ox being commonly to be bought here for Twenty Shillings a Hog for a Crown and a good Hare for a Groat but has within these two Years last past been so oppress'd with Famine that a great many Thousands of the Peasants have died for Hunger Its Inhabitants must be considered under different Qualifications Inhabitants of Livonia The first are the Germans and their Posterity out of which most of the Nobility and the Inhabitants of the Cities are composed The second are the Peasants the remainders of the Antient Inhabitants who living in the Champain Country of Lettie and Esthonie have nothing they can call their own but are absolute Slaves either to the Nobility or Chief Citizens They are called by the Germans Vnteutsche that is to say no Germans perhaps because they cannot be brought to conform themselves to the manner of Living and Language of the Germans They are the greatest Slaves in the World but it is alledged against them that if they were not kept under such a severe Subjection they would be always endeavouring to recover their Liberty at any rate of which they have given some Proofs when ever any Occasion presented The Origin of the Livonian Nobility is founded upon the Services they have in former Ages done against the Infidels and Muscovites Their Nobility they are free from all Taxes and Charges Volmar II. King of Denmark was the first that gave them Mannors to hold in Fealty which were confirmed by Eric VII by Letters Patents and augmented by the Masters of the Short Sword and the Grand Masters of Prussia Some of these Mannors especially in the Districts of Harrie and Wirland are Inheritable by the Daughters and their Issue to the fifth degree But they are above all beholding to that Famous Walter de Plattenbergh who being in the Year 1513. acknowledged a Prince of the Empire exempted the Nobility from all Subjection excepting such Services as they were obliged to do in Person upon the account of their Mannors When Necessity obliged them to have recourse to the Swedes they did not submit to that Crown but with a Proviso of retaining their Antient Priviledges which for the most part they keep to this day There is once a Year a Review made of this Nobility which does not only upon occasion furnish the King of Sweden with a considerable Body of Horse but also is look'd upon by the Sweden as their chief Nursery of Officers even to the Generals of Armies The Administration of the Government both as to Policy and Justice is committed to Twelve of the Body of the Nobility who are the Council of the Country of which the Governour of the Province from the Crown of Sweden is President Their Judicial Processes are very short and decided once a Year to wit in January by this Council who after a Declaration and an Answer proceed immediately to Judgment To perform this with the more conveniency each Province has its own Captain as they call him whose Business is to represent to the Governour and Council the Grievances of the People and this Employment is never continued above three Years in the same Person There are also certain Triennial Judges appointed for the determining of Differences in the flat Country concerning the Limits betwixt Private Men which have been rendred dubious by the Wars and some other Judges or Overseers of the High-ways Bridges and Causways But from all these there lies an Appeal to the Council of the Country As to their Religion Their Religion they are Lutherans here which must be chiefly understood from the Nobility and Inhabitants of Cities but as for the Peasants they can scarce be called half Christians much less to be said of any particular Religion being even to this day so deeply entangled in their Heathenish Superstitions that they scarce ever go to Church or at least never Communicate unless it be by force they being notwithstanding that wretched and slavish Condition they live in quite regardless of any thing else but this Life 'T is upon this Account that when they take an Oath they conclude with these words If I do not swear true I am content that the Curse of God may light upon my Body and Soul upon my Children upon all what appertains to me to the Ninth Generation Some of them especially the Peasants about Riga if they are to take an Oath at Law put a Turff upon their Heads with a white Stick in their Hands thereby signifying that they consent That they their Children and Cattle may become as dry as the Turff and Stick if they swear falsely They frequently put a Needle and Thread into the Grave with the deceased because forsooth he may perhaps have occasion to mend his Cloaths in the other World Sorcery is much more frequent among them than Prayers the first is propagated by Tradition from the Parents to their Children They never kill a Beast but some part of it is thrown away nor never brew but something must be spilt which they look upon as a Preservative against Witchcraft Nay they have a way of rebaptizing their Children themselves tho' privately if in some Weeks after the first Baptism they happen to fall sick which
before parting appoint the Time of their Rendezvouz against next Spring in one of these Isles near the mouth of the Boristhenes The great Exploits they had formerly done against the Turks had gain'd them no small Reputation among the Poles therefore Stephen Batori Prince of Transilvania and afterwards Elected King of Poland having considered with himself that these Cosacks might be of great use to the Crown of Poland not only against the Incursions of the Neighbouring Crim or Precopian Tartars but also might serve as a considerable Addition to the Strength of the Polish Army which consisting for the most part out of Horse would in effect be rendred more formidable when augmented by so considerable a Number of Foot It was upon this Consideration he resolved to put these Vagabond Soldiers into a good Order and Discipline which he effected by granting to them besides their Pay very considerable Priledges and putting them under the Command of a General of their own with a Power to chuse such Officers under him as he esteem'd most fit for Service Having thus reduced them into one Body he gave them the City of Techtimoravia with all the Territories belonging to it which being seated upon the Boristhenes they made it their Magazine and the Residence of their Governour General And to render this Body the more Serviceable against the Tartars he joyned to this Militia of the Cosacks being composed altogether of Foot two thousand Horse for the Maintaining of which he allotted the fourth Part of certain Revenues belonging to the Crown from whence they were called Quartans and by corruption Quartians and were disposed upon the Frontiers most exposed to the Incursions of the Tartars By this Means that Tract of Land which from Bar Bracklavia and Kiovia extends it self all along the Boristhenes to the Black-Sea and is now called the Vkraine which was before a desolate Country was in a little time fill'd with populous Cities and Towns As this Body has done considerable Services to the Crown of Poland by maintaining its Frontiers against the Irruptions of the Tartars so after sometime time it proved very dangerous having several times taken up Arms against the Republick For being once made sensible of their own Strength they refused to be obedient to the Orders of the Polish General Their first Rebellion was in the Year 1587 The Cosacks rebel under their General John Podkowa but being vanquish'd he had his Head cut off In the Year 1596 Sigismund III. King of Poland upon Complaints made by the Turks forbid them to cruise in the Black-Sea which Orders they obeyed for that time but soon after fell into the Polish Russia and Lithuania where they Ravaged the Country under their General Nalevaiko In vain did the King send his Orders for them to retire to their Habitations they on the contrary resolved to maintain their Ground against the Polish Army which was advancing against them under the Command of the Polish General Zolkieuski The Battle was fought near the City of Bialacerkiovia where the Cosacks had the better of it but Zolkieuski as he was a Great General having weather'd the Point for that time soon after got them into the Trap so that they were forced to submit and deliver up their General Nalevaiko who underwent the same Fate as his Predecessor In the Year 1637 the Cosacks revolted again the Occasion was thus A great many Polish Lords having Purchased Estates in the Vkraine the Quarter of the Cosacks and observing that the Boors their Vassals run frequently over to them they were of Opinion that their Revenues could never be well secured as long as the Cosacks enjoyed their Priviledges Having therefore represented them to the King as dangerous to the Republick by reason of the great number of Peasants that daily ran over to them it was resolved That the Polish General Koniespolski should order a Fort to be erected at a certain Point of Land called Kudak where the River Zwamer falls into the Boristhenes which for its Situation they had chosen as a convenient Place to bridle the Cosacks as being not far distant from the place of their ordinary Rendezvouz The Cosacks who were not so simple as not to penetrate into the Design of the Poles resolved not to suffer the Bridle to be put over their Heads and having defeated Coll. Marion who was left there with 200 Men to see the Fort perfected they assembled a considerable Body to prevent the Polish General in his Design But at the very juncture of time when they should have been most unanimous great Divisions arising among the Cosacks they revolted against their General Sawakonowiez whom they Massacr'd and in his Place set up one Pauluck of little Experience and less Conduct in Martial Affairs The Polish General having in the mean while taken this Opportunity to put the Fort in a state of Defence they marched out under their new General Pauluck but were surprised in the Plains near Korsun before they could Entrench themselves betwixt their Waggons according to their Custom so that being destitute of Horse they were easily Defeated by Potoskiâ— the Polish Marshal de Camp Those that saved themselves by flight got into Borovits but being immediately besieged by Potoski and the Place being not provided with Ammunition they were obliged to surrender their General Pauluck with four more of their Principal Officers who were afterwards beheaded at Warsaw notwithstanding their Lives were secured to them by the Capitulation It was also decreed at the Dyet held at the same time at Warsaw that not only all their Priviledges and the City of Teâ—â—htimoravia granted to them by King Stephen should be taken from them but also a new Body of Militia should be erected in their stead But the Cosacks being not discouraged at this Resolution resolved also on their Side to try the utmost for the Recovery of their Liberty and after having protested to the Poles that they would remain steadfast to the Interest of that Crown provided they were maintain'd in their antient Priviledges they fought a second time with Potoski in the Vkraine but with not much better Success than before so that finding their Circumstances desperate they Entrench'd themselves on the other side of the Boristhenes upon the River Statcza where during the space of two Months the Poles attack'd them at several times with great Vigour but were as often repulsed with all the Bravery imaginable so that finding there was no good to be done with these desperate Cosacks they were forced to come to a Capitulation with them and to confirm all their former Privileges and to promise the Re-establishment of their Militia upon the same Foot as before under the Command of their own General chosen by the King But this Capitulation was almost as soon broken as made For no sooner had they cajoled the Cosacks out of their advantagious Post but most of them were either cut to pieces or plunder'd by the Poles Their Militia was not
seldom carry any Aqua Vitae or other Strong Liquors on Board with them and tho' they are as great Drunkards as any in the North nevertheless when they go upon any Expedition either by Sea or Land they are the Sobrest people in the World When they are going to cruise upon the Black Sea they seldom exceed five or six thousand Men and there being commonly threescore at a time employed in building each Ship they will get fourscore or a hundred of them ready to be launched in three Weeks time Fifty or Sixty of them belong to each Ship which has on board five or six Falconets each of the Men being provided with a couple of Fusees and Powder and Ball proportionable They always stay for the last Quarter of the Moon that at their going out they may not be discovered by the Turkish Gallies which are always ready in the Harbour of Oczakow a City situate at the Mouth of the Boristhenes to observe their Motion No sooner have they got the least Intâ—lligence of their being abroad at Sea but the Alarm is taken immediately which reaches quickly to Constantinople from whence Couriers are dispatch'd without delay to the Coasts of Natolia Romelia and Bulgaria to bid them to be upon their Guard But the Cosacks are generally to nimble for these Messengers that are sent about to give these People Advice of their coming They know so well how to take the Advantage of the Wind and Weather that they commonly are in forty Hours upon the Coast of Natolia When they descry a Ship or Gally which they can do at a great distance without being perceived by them their Vessels not baring above two Foot and an half above Water they approach to it as near as they think convenient towards the Evening when keeping at about three or four Miles distance they take exactly notice whereabouts the Ship is and what Course it takes About Midnight they get to their Oars and with all the haste they can make towards the Place where they think it most likely to meet with the Ship which being found out they surround attack and board it on all sides so that it being impossible for one Ship to defend it self in the Night-time against so many it is soon taken What Booty they meet with either of Silver Cannon or Arms or such Merchandices as are of no great Burthen they transport into their Vessels but the Ship they generally sink But as they have the Advantage over the Ships or Gallies by Night so if they happen to meet them by Day they seldom come off without bloody Noses they being not in a Condition to withstand their Cannon It is then their Swiftness stands them most in stead and they are secure enough from the Enemy's pursuing when once they approach their little Channels and get among the Bulrushes Whilst they were under the Prorection of the Crown of Poland the Turkish Grand Seignior used frequently to make his Complaints to the King of Poland against their Piracies in the Black Sea but he used commonly to receive the same Satisfaction the Poles have when they make their Complaints at Constantinople against the Incursions of the Tartars who dread no other Enemy in the World so much as they do the Cosacks But Their Manner of Fighting by Land as to their manner of Fighting by Land it 's to be observ'd that they are but very indifferent Horsemen but most excellent Soldiers on foot They are inured to all sorts of Fatigues and Hardship very obedient to their Commanders and extreamly active and dexterous in intrenching themselves not only in the ordinary Way but also by making a Fence of their Baggage-Waggons as they march along These moving Entrenchments are absolutely necessary for them when they march without Horse in open Plains and these Desarts of the Tartars against whom they are forc'd to stand the Brunt wherever they meet them There has been several Examples that a thousand Cosacks all Foot thus marching betwixt their Chariots and Waggons in a Plain have repulsed five or six thousand Tartars on Horseback their Horses as they are exceeding swift not being very strong but are stopp'd by the least Barracado that is put in their Way This Way of Marching a whole Army in the midst of their Baggage and Ammunition Waggons would scarce be practicable in any other Country but Poland which lies all upon a Level and consequently is the most proper for such a March in the World The Country inhabited by the Cosacks is called the Vkraine Country of the Cosacks which is as much as to say lying upon the Frontier It borders upon Podolia and is a Part of the Palatinates of Kiovia and Braclovia They had made themselves entirely Masters of this as well as a great part of the Black Russia but have since been forc'd to abandon it for the most part This Country extends it self from the 51. to the 48. Degree of Latitude beyond which to wit betwixt the Danube and the Palus Meotides as far as the Black Sea there are vast Plains but deserted so fertile that the Grass grows near a Man's height The Vkraine is a very fertile Country The Ukraine which tho' scarce the third Part of it be cultivated produces such a vast quantity of Grains of all sorts that for the most part the Inhabitants don't know how to consume it wanting the Conveniency of Exportation their Rivers not being Navigable They abound also in all sorts of Cattle Fowl and Fish Honey Wax and Wood fit not only for Firing but also for Building The only thing they Want is Wine and Salt With the first of these two they are supplied from Hungary Transylvania Wallachia and Moldavia besides that they make very good Beer and Aqua vitae out of their Corn which together with their Hydromel they make use of instead of Wine Their Salt they are furnished with out of the Salt-pits near Cracovia or out of the Country of Pokutia upon the Borders of Transylvania and Moldavia where there are Salt-springs the Water of which being boiled produces a very White Salt very agreeable to the Taste but not so good for salting of Meat as some others are Their Houses are built of Wood after the Muscoviaâ— Fashion and so are their Fortifications made of Earth and Wood which they account to be better Cannon Proof than Brick'd Walls but are soon set on fire The Rivers of Note here Its Rivers and 〈◊〉 are the Boristhenes or Nieper the Bog the Niester or Tyras the common Border betwixt them and Wallachia the Dezna the Ros the Horin the Stucz and the Ster near which was fought the last Baâ—tle betwixt the Poles and Cosacks in the Year 1651 which proved fatal to the last and afterwards made them seek for Protection among the Muscovites and Turks The most considerable Cities and Fortresses which were once in the Possession of the Cosacks are Kiovia dignified with the Title of a Palatinate
publish'd till after the Consummation of the Marriage forasmuch as the Person the Czar makes Choice of which is done by Tying a Crown upon her Head is exposed to the Envy and Malice of such other Ladies as have been refused by the Prince so that to avoid any dangerous consequences but especially the Charms of these Rival Ladies which are much fear'd by the Muscovites there is scarce any thing known of the Czar's Marriage till it is Proclaim'd by the Sound of the Great Bell in Musco perhaps the finest in the World As the Fashion of the Czar's Cloaths is like that of the Nobility The Czaritza but only richer so the Dress of the Czaritza or Empress is little different from other Women the Attire of her Head is something higher and her Smock Sleeves are much longer to wit ten or twelve English Yards besides that her Robe or uppermost Gown has wide Sleeves not unlike to those of our Batchellours of Arts These are worn by all her Women of Honour Chamber-Women Ladies and Embroideresses The Father or Brother of the Czaritza or Empress dare not call her his Daughter and Sister nor dare any of the Kindred own themselves so It is a general Custom among the Russians The Czarovitz not to let their young Children be seen by any body but their nearest Relations for fear Strangers should cast some ill Aspect upon them This is more strictly observed with the Czarovitz or Son of the Czar none being permitted to see him unless it be his Tutor and Family Servants till he be fifteen Years old when he is exposed to publick View At the Birth of a Czarovitz the people to demonstrate their Joy bring great Presents to the Court which are for the most part return'd but if the Czar likes any of them he pays to the full Worth for them The Czar's Children are attended by other Children bred up with them who exactly know their distance and what manner of Respect is to be paid to them as well as other Persons of what degree soever None of them dare speak the least Word of what passes in their Court as it is death for any one to Reveal what is past in the Czar's Palace CHAP. XI Of the Religion of the Muscovites and their Church Government THE Muscovites do all profess one and the same Religion which may be said to be particular to them forasmuch as it extends not beyond the Grand Czar's Dominions unless it be at Narva where some few Muscovites live under the Jurisdiction of Sweden and that there is some Analogy betwixt them and those Inhabiting the Polish Russia that profess the Greek Religion The Muscovites glory that they are the only True Christians now in the World forasmuch as they are baptized whereas others have been only Sprinkled which is the Reason they alledge for Re-baptizing all such of what Persuasion soever that embrace their Religion They profess as they say the true Greek Religion which makes them shew abundance of Respect and Kindness to the Greeks so that the Greek Monks or Priests which frequently come from other parts into Muscovy with their Relicks know how to make an Advantage of their Simplicity and Ignorance They found their Religion on the Books of the Old and New Testament They are forbidden to bring the whole Bible to Church tho they are allowed to read it at home by reason of several passages in the Old Testament so that they only carry the New Testament and some certain chosen Psalms and Verses taken out of the Prophets It is about threescore years ago that they got the Bible translated into the Russian Language wherein they followed as they pretend the foot-steps of the Seventy Interperters They have also a certain Book which they call the History of the Gospel but the whole so adulterated with Fabulous Narrations and Impertinent Circumstances that in another Christian Country it would be so far from being look'd upon as a Book of Devotion that it would appear abominable As to the Explication of the Bible they follow St. Cyril Bishop of Jerusalem who flourish'd towards the latter end of the Fourth Age under the Reign of the Emperor Theodosius and ought not to be confounded with Cyril of Alexandria The rest of the Fathers which are in greatest esteem among the Russians are John Damascene Gregory Nazianzen St. John Chysostome and Ephraim the Syrian of whom they relate that an Angel having presented to him a Book writ in Golden Characters which no body could disclose he immediately received those Instructions from thence which he has transmitted in his Books to Posterity They relate out of their Annals that the Christian Religion was first established in these parts by the Apostle St Andrew who leaving Greece came to the Borysthenes where he embark'd and by the Sea of Ladoga came to Novogorod where he Preach'd the Gospel That the Christian Religion was afterwards extirpated by the Neighbouring Pagans who made themselves Masters of Muscovy till in the Year 989. Prince Wolodimer or Vlodimer Great Duke of Russia having given them a signal Overthrow and re-united several of these Provinces to his Crown grew so famous for his great Atchievements that Basilius and Constantine Porphyrogennetae Emperours of Constantinople sent their Ambassadours to Congratulate his good Success and that by the Conversation and Instructions of these Ambassadors Prince Wolodimer was induc'd to embrace the Christian Faith and to receive Baptism John Cropalates who writ part of the Byzantine History and lived much about the same time as also Cedren and Zonaras chiefly attribute the Conversion of the Russians to the Christian Religion to a Miracle perform'd by a Bishop that was sent thither by the Patriarch of Constantinople to instruct and baptize the people For these Infidels having objected to him That since God had preserved Daniel's Companions in the Fiery Furnace why might not with the same or more reason the Bible be prevented by God's power from being consumed by Fire The Bishop after having told them that he was assured he could not ask any thing from God which he could not obtain by his prayers cast the Bible into a great Fire made for that purpose where having lain till the Fire was all spent it was taken out as entire and untouch'd as it was cast in whereat Wolodimer being moved abolish'd all Idolatry and in lieu thereof planted Christianity in all his Territories From hence it is that they deduce the Origin of their Religion from the Greek Church which however they have much alter'd since The Creed of Athanasius is the general Rule of their Faith for they believe in God the Father as Creator of the World in God the Son as Saviour and Redeemer of Mankind and in the Holy Ghost as Sanctifier of all the Faithful but for the rest they are involved in a great many Superstitions and fix the Center of their Devotion more in the outward and Ceremonial Part than in the Internal Part
it from them He refused the Great Duke's Horses at his Entrance and made use of his own At his Audience he would needs make his Proposition Sitting and perceiving that when he pronounced the Name and Titles of his King Insolence of a Polish Ambassador the Boyars did not uncover themselves he stopp'd till such time as he saw the Great Duke command them so to do King Vladislaus had not so much as sent the usual presents to the Great Duke without which otherwise Ambassadors are never admitted to publick Audience the Ambassador only presented him as from himself with a very rich Coach which the Great Duke having accepted of he sent him before his Departure a rich Present of Sables which the Ambassador refused with Scorn The Great Duke thereupon sent back his Coach which he was so angry at that he kick'd the Pristaff who brought the Message from the Top of a very high pair of Stairs to the Bottom The Great Duke being highly incensed thereat yet was fain to dissemble his Resentment in the present ill Posture of his Affairs he only sent word to the Ambassador that he knew not whether this Behaviour of his was according to his Master's Order or whether it proceeded from his own violent Inclinations That if he had acted according to the King's Commands he must have Patience till a more favourable Juncture should present to give himself Satisfaction for the Affronts put upon him That tho' by his late Disgrace before Smolensko he was at present not in a Capacity to shew his Resentment as he ought to do the Event of the War was nevertheless in the Hands of God Almighty who might crown his Arms with better Success another time But that if what he had done was without the King's Order as he believ'd and upon his own Account Complaint should be made of it to the King his Master from whose Justice he promised himself ample Satisfaction for the Rudeness and Insolencies committed by his Minister Michael Federovits seeing his Affairs in so ill a Posture Peace betwixt the Muscovites and Poles thought it most advisable to comply with the present Exigency of the State and to clap up a Peace with the Poles in the next following Year by Vertue of which the Muscovites renounced all their Pretensions to the two large Dukedoms of Smolensko and Zernikow In the same Year he caused Herman Shein his General at the Siege of Smolensko to be executed with his Son and all his Kindred to be banished into Siberia by whose Death the Clamours of the People having been appeased he reigned afterwards in great Tranquility and to the great Satisfaction of his Subjects till the Year 1645 when Count Wolmer natural Son to the late King of Denmark came to this Court to sollicite his Daughter in Marriage which being opposed by the Russian Clergy who objected that he was an Heretick the Count proffered that his Chaplains should maintain the Truth of the Lutheran Faith against them which the Muscovite Priests refusing the Grand Czar broke out into a Passion saying to them Why do you impose upon us a Faith you dare not bring to Tryal A few days after going very well to Bed he was seized at Midnight with a most violent Vomiting Michael Federovits dies which put an End to his Life the next Morning being the 12th day of July in the 49th Year of his Age and the 33d of his Reign the Great Dutchess his Wife dying within eight days afâ—er him being generally regretted by the Muscovites who under his Reign enjoyed the Fruits of a peaceable and mild Government Some years before his Death A new 〈◊〉 starts up there started up another Impostor who had Impudence enough to 〈◊〉 the Name and Quaâ—ity of Basili Ivanovits 〈…〉 the Great Duke Basili Zuski tho' it 〈…〉 known that the whole Race of the 〈◊〉 was extinct some Years before For of the three Brothers that were carried Prisoners into 〈…〉 died theâ—e without leaving any Male 〈◊〉 and the third who was releasâ—d and return'd into Muscovy died a few Years before the Discovery of this Impostor without Children There was another Lord of the same Family who had one Son named Michael Basilovits Zuski Scapin who died Young in the Year 1616 without Issue The Name of this Impostor was Timoska the Diâ—inutive of Timothy Ankudina born in the Suburbs of Vologda in the Province of the same Name He was the Son of a Linen Draper who dealt in coaâ—se Cloaths whose Name was Demki Ankudina and his Mother was called Salmaniska The Father having observed something more than Ordinary in him had been very careful of giving him the highest degree of Muscovite Education which consists in Reading Writing and Singing so that he was look'd upon in those Parts as a Person of an uncommon Capacity The Excellency of his Voice and his Skill in Singing had particularly recommended him to the Archbishop of the Place who took him into his Service wherein he behaved himself so well that he bestowed one of his Grand-daughters upon him in Marriage After the Archbishop's Death having squandred away his Wifes Fortune he settled himself in the City of Musco where by the recommendation of a Friend he had at Court he was made one of the Receivers in the Office that is kept there for the Licensing of Taverns and Tippling-Houses But giving himself over to all manner of Extravagancies and Debaucheries he could not make up his Accounts which fell short the first year by a considerable Sum. To repair this Breach he had recourse to an intimate Friend of his one of his fellow-Receivers in the same Office called Basili Gregorovits Spilki him he told that one of the chiefest Merchants of Vologda a near Relation of his Wifes was come to Town and had invited him to Dinner that he being willing to shew his Friend the highest Act of Muscovian Civility intended to let him see his Wife and that he might be able to present her in a Condition suitable to his present Statioâ— he intreated him to lend him his Wifes Pearls and other Jewels which were of a considerable Value His Friend having without the least difficulty granted his Request lent him the Jewels without the least Precaution or taking any thing under his Hand for the Receipt of them so that when he demanded his Jewels Timoska averr'd that he had not lent him any Spilki clapt him up in Prison but having no Evidence against him he was acquitted But instead of making up his Accompts with the Money he received for the Jewels which he sold he squandred it away upon his Extravagancies whereupon great differences arising betwixt him and his Wife who had a very lewd Tongue and would frequently upbraid him with his treacherous Dealings both to his Prince and Friend and fearing that he might be called to an Account for his Perfidiousness and that his Wife might be the main Instrument of his Discovery he took a Resolution
to dispatch her with the first Opportunity For which purpose having sent his Son Tereska to a Friend of his in the Country he shut his Wife up in a Stove Burnt his Wife and set the House on fire which consumed her and some of the neighbouring Houses Having done this he went into Poland Reâ—ires into Poland but so secretly that it was the general Opinion in the City of Musco that he had been consumed with his Family He continued two Years under a borrow'd Name in the City of Warsaw at the Court of Vladislaus King of Poland when hearing that a Muscovite Ambassador was on his Way to that Court and not thinking himself secure he retired to Chmielniski the General of the Cosacks unto whom having represented that he was a near Kinsman of the Great Duke Basili Zuski and was prosecuted upon that Score by the present Czar Michael Federovits he begg'd his Protection and was received with all the Respect due to his pretended Quality As he had a ready Wit so he carried on the Imposture under such specious Pretences that he began to be very considerable among the Cosacks who flattered themselves with his future Protection at a time when they were very uneasie under the Polish Government The Muscovites had by this time got some Scent of the Matter wherefore the Great Duke sent one of his Gentlemen Ushers named Jacob Koston to the Cosack General with an offer of his Protection against the Poles and to demand the Impostor Timoska having got Notice of the Arrival of the Muscovian Poslanick and guessing at his Errand thought himself no longer safe among the Cosacks who he feared would secure him for their own Advantage and so went to Constantinople Goes to Turky and turâ—s Mahometan where having abjur'd the Christian Religion he embraced Mahometanism and was circumcised He proposed to the Turks the Introducing of Mahometanism in Russia if by their Assistance he might be placed in the Throne of his Father the Great Duke Basili Zuski but these giving no great heed to his Propositions he did not stay long there but took the first Opportunity to be transported by a Venetian Vessel into Italy Comes to Rome and turns Roman Catholick From Venice he went to Rome where he professed the Roman Catholick Religion and by the same Artifices that he had made use of at Constantinople to wit by promising to establish that Reâ—gion in Muscovy endeavoured to bring over the Holy Father into his Interest The Court of Rome being by this time better acquainted with the State of Muscovy than they were some Years before when they were so miserably imposed upon by Demetrius and knowing that Empire so settâ—le of Impostors would not act with so much precipitation in an Affair of such Moment but resolved to amuse him with fair Promises till they might be fully satisfied as to the Legality of his Pretensions But Timoska either judging these Resolutions too slow Goes to Vienna and from thenc ' into Transylvania or at least not suitable to his Purpose went thence to Vienna and from thence to Prince Ragotzi in Transilvania This Prince furnished him with Letters of Recommendation to Christina Queâ—n of Sweden This Princess finding him a Person of great Dexterity and a considerable Share of Knowledge for he had in his Travels attained the Latin German Italian and Turkish Languages and giving credit to what he had related concerning his Quality Is well received by Christian Queen of Sweden refused to appear in Arms for his Interest but allow'd him a very honourable Subsistance so that he was look'd upon by every Body and treated as the true Son of Basili Zuski Great Duke of Muscovy But the Czar Regent having soon been acquainted by the Muscovian Merchants residing at Stockholm how this Impostor was received by the Queen sent the same Poslanick who had seen him before with Chmielniski the General of the Cosacks to detect the Fraud and at the same time to desire her to deliver this Villain into his Hands But Timoska had no sooner got Notice of the Arrival of this Gentleman but knowing his coming to presage no good to his Affairs got away without taking his Leave from his Man Kostka Constantine the constant Companion of his Adventures who was carried in Chains into Muscovy Timoska was by Order from the Queen of Sweden secured at Reval in Livonia who intended to have also sent him to the great Duke but having found Means to get out of the Prison by the Connivance of the Governour of the Place as it was believ'd he made his Escape into Holland from whence he went to Brussels where he tarried for some time in that Court From thence he went to the University of Wittenberg Turns Lutheran and soon after to Leipzick where he made Profession of the Lutheran Religion and writ himself his Confession of Faith in the Latin Tongue After some Stay there he went to Newstadt in the Country of Holstein where having been discovered by a Messenger of the Great Duke's called Peter Micklaf Seized in Holstein he was taken by Order from the Duke of Holstein who caused him to be conveyed from thence to Gottorp his usual place of Residence and to be secured under a strong Guard till the Great Duke should send express Orders for the bringing his Person into Muscovy Czar Alexis Michaelovits Son and Successor to Michael Federovits having received Notice of the Seisure of this Impostor not only sent his Letters to the Duke of Holstein Gottorp where he desired to have him delivered into the Hands of such as he had appointed for that purpose but also to bring to light the Villanies of Timoska beyond all Contradiction sent among his Deputies the same Spilki whom formerly he had cheated of his Wife's Jewels and who had been his Fellow-Officer in the same Employment Spilki was no sooner arrived at the Court of the Duke of Holstein but he desired to be confronted with him in the Presence of some Officers of the Court not questioning but that his Presence would soon bring him to an ingenuous Confession of the whole Truth But they were not a little surprised when they saw Timoska without the least Alteration in his Countenance or Behaviour treat Spilki as if he had never known him before and speak to him in the Polish Language which Spilki did not very well understand and being asked several Questions by him in relation to his past Life especially as to his Name whether it were not Timoska Ankudina whether he had not defrauded the Great Duke's Treasury whether he had not cheated him of his Wife's Jewels burnt his House and committed other enormous Crimes Timoska answered carelesly That it was possible that one Timoska Ankudina might have converted the Great Duke's Money to his own use and committed many other Villanies but that this was no Concern of his That his Name was Johannes Sinensis which in the Polish Language