contracted in Marriage which they are at six or seven years old that they may be sure to have them Virgins they buy them of their Parents for so many head of Deer and take them home to their houses and lock them up al Italiano The men likewise serve their wives so when they go an hunting and 't is as ordinary as strings to a purse For they have a Proverb He that leaves his purse open invites a Thief to it such as have seen their Engines say they come not short of the Italian ones Their houses are only round tents made of Deer-skins and Matts with a fire in the midst and a hole at the top for the smoke about which they lye round and find themselves warm enough In the Summer they remove near the Rivers to fish which they dry and preserve against Winter they kill their fishes with arrows and most commonly eat them raw they eat young Puppies and count them a rare dish They are not thought worthy of a Governour by his Imperial Majesty nor so considerable as to be taxed only voluntarily they pay a few Deer None understand their barbarous language but themselves nor yet their Laws which they execute secretly When they sell a Deer to Strangers they are sure to indent to have the garbage which they eat after a slight squeezing out of the excrements He is best qualifi'd amongst them who knows most in Magick wherein they are excellent especially before Strangers but amongst the Russes they dare not play any feats least they should be accused At Archangelo divers of them being treated by an English Merchant one in the company being very drunk besoul'd himself and was as rude as a Bear or Tom a Bedlam Hereupon an old Woman was call'd in who whisper'd in his ear touch'd his forehead and the man became as sober as if he had drunk nothing CHAP. XVIII Of the Southern parts of Syberia The Wilderness called Step full of Cherry-trees and fine Flowers Of Elks. Of the Zoorick and Perivoshick The Countrey of Squirrels Of a little Bird like a Woodcock Another like an Hawk A third as big as a Swan The story of the Vegitable Lamb refuted GOing towards the more Southern parts of Syberia you shall see a Wilderness called the Step which is six or seven hundred Versts long most of it â—s Champain it has but few Rivers â—et the ground is incredibly fruitful There you may ride a days journey through a field of Cherry-trees not aâ—ove three quarters of a yard high the reason why they are such dwarffs is because they are so often burnt down by Strangers or Travellers who making fires in the Autumn catelesty depart and the grass being long and dry takes fire which sometimes has pursued them to death two or three hundred Furlongs have been burnt at a time These trees yield a sine red Cherry but very tart Such as have been transplanted have proved very good I have spoken with those who have seen here variety of Tulips Damask and red Roses Asparagus exceeding large Onions Marjoram Time Sage Chicory Endive Savory c. what else we carefully nourish in our Gardens Liquorish also in great plenty which invite thither Ursa major and Ursa minor lastly Parsâ—ips and Carrets Merchants fetch from thence much Salgemmar and Nitre Their Elks are the largest in the world they have also a little Beasâ— call'd a Zoorick about the bigness of a Badger but not of that make it has â— dark brindled fine smooth hide short legs a little head a back almost a spaâ— broad and is indeed a pretty plump creature They dwell under ground like Coneys When Colonel Crafords Regiment quarter'd near their cells they came out wondring at them and standing upon their hinder legs they made such a shrill and unexpected noise as put the men into such a fright and the horse grasing by them that some ran away ten Versts before they could be overtaken The Russes relate strange stories of their mutual Wars taking Prisoners and making Slaves to bring in their winter provision as Hay and Roots â—his may pass for a Russian Fable But â—or certain they say that their Burroughs are very finely contriv'd and that they are so neat and curious in their houses that if any of them dye in the Burrough they will carry them out and bury them â—n these parts there is another Beast call'd Perrivoshick whose furr is brown yelâ—ow mixed with a little white and black which shews well in a coat though little valued here because the â—urr is short and of little warmth this beast â—s said to be very civil in carrying Squirrels and Ermines over Rivers and this is the reason why he is called Perrivoshick i. e. the Ferry man or Transporter and the same word in the Russian tongâ—â— signifies a Translator The Russes say these Beasts take great delight in transporting other creatures I never heard it from any eye-witness but this I have that whole Countreys of Squirrels having spent their provision on the one side the River will adventure over to the other using their tayls for their Masts Rudder and Sails and a small chip or stick for their Boat with a fore-wind which veering about hazards the whole Fleet for they cannot â—tack about and if once their sails take wet they are utterly undone and defunct About Cazan and Astracan there is a little Bird about the bigness of a Woodcock his legs and bill not unlike a Snipe but the feathers and neck like a Cock of the Game being cut and trimm'd they fight like Cocks sparring at one another and yet they have noâ— spurs They are in continual war iâ— kept in the house and will lie on their guards with their bills on the ground and at first advantage run a tilt with their single Rapiers as violently as any Duellist brusling up their neck-feathers a guissa di gallo they are meat beyond Quails and are also fâ—â—nd about Archangelo with another Bâ—â—l as great as an Owzle made like an Hawk who flyes at smaller birds catches them sticks them on a thorn and picks them very clean before she eats them There â—s a Bird brought hither from Astracan â—as big as a Swan not unlike in his body and his feet but hath somewhat shorter and thicker neck he has also a very â—ide throat able to swallow down a fish â—ine inches adout Perhaps in some histories of these parts you may have â—eard of a vegitable Lamb which deâ—ours all the grass about it and then flyes but this is as true as the story of Monocular people in Sir John Mandeâ—ils Travels and such like Fables which â—ave not the least shadow of truth CHAP. XIX A brief account of Tartary It 's Metropolis To whom the Tartars pay Tribute The Muscovite formerly tributary to the Crim-Tartar How far they march in a day They eat horse-flesh but no bread nor salt the reason why They are very quick sighted excellent horse-men of the
KNEAZE ALEXEY MICHAILOVITZ Great Duke of Moscovie Aged XXXIV Yeares 1664. Cross Sculpsit THE Present State OF RUSSIA In a Letter to a Friend AT LONDON Written by an Eminent Person residing at the Great Czars Court at Mosco for the space of nine years Illustrated with many Copper Plates O utinam Ars mores animumque depingere posset Pulchrior in terris nulla Tabella foret LONDON Printed by John Winter for Dorman Newman at the Kings Arms in the Poultry A. D. 1671. To the Reader READER THe Author of this subsequent Relation was a Gentleman of large Parts and had an esteem proportionably amongst those to whom he was willing to impart his Sentiments of things and those were many not only in his native Country England but in France Italy Holland Germany Flanders Russia c. In which last place he continued nine years in an honourable imploy under that Great Emperour His Genius led him to be curious and inquisitive mostly after those things that were difficult to be attained to and perhaps he found the means of gathering these few Papers together as hard and uneasie as any thing that he endeavoured after in all his Travels He had the happiness to be a Favourite to the Great Tzar and his Patriarch things not usually competible and it may be has made a farther discovery of â—he Russ affairs then any Stranger has been capacitaâ—ed to do before or since These few Sheets he colâ—â—cted when he was in Mosâ— and designed since his â—â—ming from thence to meâ—odize and Print them â—â—der the Title of The Life 〈◊〉 Ivan Vasiloidg part of â—hich I saw But an acute 〈◊〉 unkinde disease put a â—â—riod to that and his life What you here finde was given to one of his Attendants who was loath the world should lose the reading of so much truth concerning that Nation although it were unfinished and altogether rough I must suppose you will finde many faults some of the Correctors and some of the Printers and if there be any of the Authors I hope your candor will pardon his as wel as theirs Farewell N. D. THE CONTENTS CHAP. I. OF the Russians nature in general Their contempt of Learning Their Clergy Liturgy Churches Ceremonies in Devotion Hours of Prayer The Priests names Habits Wives Baptism The unnatural death of Apostates CHAP. II. Of their Marriages The Clerks ceremony towards the Bride Her manner of conduct The Epithalimum sung by Boys and Girls The old Womans advice to the Bridefolk The Bridal Room The Bridegrooms boots pull'd off by the Bride Their severe Discipline to their Wives censured No process in Law against it The Parents contract with their Daughters Husbands Witchcraft used at Weddings Abstinence from Venery The penalty for marrying a second or third Wife The Emperours second Son The manner of the Emperours electing a Wife His disappointment how punished His Sallary to the wronged Virgin The Queens Relations Of the Czaroidg not seen publickly till Fifteen Of the Russian Children When and how weaned Of their Fasts and Pennances CHAP. III Of the Patriarch in general He is supreme head of the Church Of his Pallace The Ceremony of Palm-Sunday His Mitre Of the Russian Bells The Patriarchs Present to the Emperour His Action on Good Friday His charge to the People The Story of a Countrey Fellow Their salutation on Easter Day The Patriarchs Presents to the Czars Servants and Nobility Their entertainments The Ladies Complements one to another CHAP. IV. Of their Burials The women are obliged to mourn Their Dirges The Ceremony used to the dead Those that are kill'd or frozen to death buried at Mid-sommer Of their Carnaval and excessive drinking The sad consequence thereof CHAP. V. Of their Imagery Pictures exchanged in the God-market saved in Conflagrations they highly prize them bestow Jewels on them The punishment of a Woman who stole her pearl from an Image though in case of necessity Heresie punished Of their Friars and Nuns CHAP. VI. The Tragical Relation of a Monkey His several tricks How he threw down the Images and scar'd the Priest His apprehension and final condemnation The Authors Reflections CHAP. VII Of their Musick A story of one of their Embassadors Beggars in Russia beg in Tunes Their Drums Trumpets and Hunting-horns CHAP. VIII Of their nuptial proceedings soon consummated They act by Brokers The mans friends see the Bride naked How a young fellow was cheated The punishment of those Women who kill their Husbands CHAP. IX A merry story of a great Fish which the Friars took to be a Devil The contrary being discover'd they are asham'd and make an Entertainment Another story of a Fish but more Tragical What ensued upon it CHAP. X. Of the Chircasses Their Religion Complexion Drinking Dancing Government Souldiery and Witchcraft CHAP. XI Of the Russian Government Laws Manner of writing Their Clerks how called Their Characters whence borrow'd Their Petitions His Imperial Majesties person and character compar'd with his Fathers The Empire miserably impoverished and depopulated by the Tartarian Invasions CHAP. XII The Emperours rise His Ancestors but Dukes of Volodimir His Pallace how call'd Of Juan Vasilowidg and his divers odd humours his Petition to one of his Diacks His Conquests How he was loved How he fined Vologda How he served the women that laughed at him Of the Vayods mistake Another Vayod how punished for taking a Goose Juan a great lover of Queen Elizabeth How he serv'd the French Embassador How Sir Jerom Boze came off A Shoomaker presented the Emperour with a Turnep how rewarded What the Emperour did with the Turnep How a poor man entertained him His associating with Thieves How he was served by one of them and how he preferr'd him CHAP. XIII Of the present Emperour or great Czar Czar from whence derived His Titles and Arms. He marries not out of his own Dominions His Diet. Lodging Recreations Visits The Czaroâ—dges Birth CHAP. XIV Of the Emperours Revenues great Priviledges Trading Provision Traffick allowance to his Houshold Of his Pallace high Tower Of his Boyars Of the Monasteries and Nunneries Officers of State The Czars temperance Of his entertaining the Nobility A story of General Leshly CHAP. XV. Of the City of Mosco Of the Czars Jewels Of his Clothes Of the Queen and her maids of honours attire Their journeys in Waggons How they rode formerly The mode and language of the Russes all one They differ in their actions from all other Nations Of their Clock Dyals and contrariety to other people in several things And of other Customs they have CHAP. XVI Of their Judiciary proceedings Of murther how punish'd the accused must confess the fact Of their Executioner and cruel Torments The punishment of Coyners A Fellow that shot at a Jack-daw how punish'd Conspirators banished into Syberia c. Hanging lately used amongst them and how CHAP. XVII Of Syberia and its Inhabitants Chay and Bour Dian brought from thence their qualities Tambul the Metropolis of Syberia A discourse
of Sables how kill'd The excessive coldness of this Countrey How they feed their Cows Of the River Ob. What Caviare is made of Of Samogeda their Dyet Sledges how drawn Hunting Indistinct habit Of their manners And oother remarkable observations concerning these Northernlings in general CHAP. XVIII Of the Southern parts of Syberia The Wilderness called Step full of Cherry-trees and fine Flowers Of Elks. Of the Koorick and Perivoshick The Countrey of Squirrels Of a little Bird like a Woodcock Another like a Hawk A third as big as a Swan The story of the Vegitable Lamb refuted CHAP. XI A brief account of Tartary It 's Metropolis To whom the Tartars pay Tribute The Muscovite formerly tributary to the Crim-Tartar How far they march in a day They eat horse-flesh but no bread nor salt the reason why They are very quick-sighted excellent horse-men Of the Colmack Tartars The Crim's describ'd they deride the Russian worship The grounds why they do it CHAP. XX. What the simpler sort of Russians are their Idolatry and ignorance what they think of St. Nicholas their high conceit of good works They are great Rogues Some are good among them The Poles are not so barbarous as the Russes The Poles characteriz'd their Laws their King how stiled he is very magnificent King Henry weary of the title How he made shift to get away out of Poland CHAP. XXI Of Lues Venerea Of the Polonian Plica a familiar distemper and very infectious yet they highly esteem it When hair first began to be powdred The Poles more honourable in keeping Articles than the Russes A comparison of the Polish and Russian Languages Their salutations are stately How the Tartars and Chircasses salute The Chircasses Religion CHAP. XXII Of the Present Czar his Father Grave Wolmer how disappointed in Marriage Czar Michaels death The story of Boris Juanoidg How the Czar elects a Wife Whom Boris preferr'd His height makes him envied Eliah exalted The Russians extol Marriage Eliah disabled Who succeeds him Nashokin a great Reformer Highly commended His words concerning the French and Danes supporting the Hollanders against England He is a great lover of the English How he censured a Bill of Mortality and some other discourse which he held CHAP. XXIII The Czars description His answer to a Stranger How he appears in publick He never visits any Subject His Court without noise He seldom dines publickly At Easter his Subjects kiss his hand How he pays his Strelsies What he has done to employ the poor The Czaritza governs the Women From whence the Emperour 's chief Revenues proceed CHAP. XXIV The Czar goes every year to a house of pleasure call'd Obrasawsky Of the curious tents erected there How cautious the Emperour is of letting the vulgar sort behold his pastimes This commended for several reasons None are to petition the Czar in the fields What hapned to a poor Russian Captain for so doing The Emperours resentment for his death Peter Solticove turn'd out of Office and banished the Court the cause why Nashockin put in his place The Czar in the night time visits his Chancellors desks He has Spyes in every corner 'T is death to reveal any thing spoken in the Court The Russians answer to inquisitive persons The Czars children how attended they are bound to keep secrecie CHAP. XXV The story of a Jew turn'd Mahometan he falsly accuses Nashockin and is lash'd for his pains Jews how crept into the Court. A Discourse of Bogdan Matfeidg the Czars great Favourite his Pandor and Amours His Ladies jealousie how she was made away The Czar reproves him He and Nashockin no good friends Of the Czars Religion vvherein he is very zealous and constant He fasts at several times eight months in a year disposes of all Ecclesiastical Preferments His high commendation CHAP. XXVI Trading in Russia very low English Cloth a drug why slighted The Authors Reflection If Persians trade there what English are like to suffer What the Russians are in general Concerning the Dutch what the English must do to out-vye them How much they abuse us to the Emperour 'T were convenient for England to undeceive the Czar How things should be represented to Nashockin and Bogdan The Russians mightily pleased with their peace with Poland CHAP. XXVII Of Caviare how and where made The length of the Fish Belluga Caviare of two sorts The Belluga swallows abundance of Pebbles it is an excellent meat Isinglass is made of his Sounds CHAP. Xâ—Xâ—â—â— Of several sorts of Mushrooms which grow in Russia their forms and qualities they are divided by Botanists into two kinds viz. Lethales and Salutiferae A SURVEY Of the present State of RUSSIA CHAP. I. Of the Russians nature in general their contempt of Learning their Clergy Liturgy Churches Ceremonies in Devotion hours of Prayer the Priests names Habit Wives Baptism The unnatural death of Apostates AS for the Situtaion of Russia it is so well known that it would be a needless labour for me to set it down my design at present is to Survey â—â—e Religion and Manners of the Inhabitants And to this purpose I have made a slender Essay the truth whereof I hope will excuse the plainness of the dress the stuff is course and the thread not fine but the matter I conceive will be both pleasant and profitable Having had therefore fair opportunities and good intelligence I am the more willing to give you an account of this Empire Indeed hitherto no man of parts or abilities has been suffered to travel the Country For the people are very jealous and suspect those who ask them any questions concerning their Policy or Religion they being wholly devoted to their own Ignorance and Education which is altogether illiterate and rude both in Civil and Ecclesiastical Affairs look upon Learning as a Monster and fear it no less than a Ship of Wildfire and thus they verifie the old Saying Ars nullum habet inimicum praeter ignorantem In the year of our Lord 1560. the Art of Printing was brought in amongst them as Thevet relates in the life of Basil and a Latin School also was erected but the Tribe of Levi soon destroyed it Vi Armis I shall therefore commence my discourse with them who are not set apart for this Function as in other Nations but any Lay-man of a good life and conversation may take upon him the Priesthood This Nation received the Christian Faith about six hundred years since from a certain Priest of Chioff who is said to cure one of the Dukes of Musco by prayer upon which Miracle he and all his people were baptized They borrow their Liturgy from the Greek Church which is written in the Sclavonian Language and used in their devotion with as much knowledge as the Latin amongst the Papists They follow the Greeks though lamely in the Architecture of their Churches whose chief ornaments are Images adorned with rich Stones and Pearls wherein they admit no Sculpture but only painting for they
Burials are strange as soon as the breath is out of the body as we commonly express it they carry the Corps into the Church where it abides not long before it be buried in the Church-yard The Wife of the deceased is obliged to howl most pitifully and hire others to do the like but little reason have they to do it considering their severe usage but custom not love may possibly incite them to do it Ut flerenâ— oculos erudiere suos is Ovid's generaâ— observation on the whole Sex The Russians count that the greatest Funeral where are most Women-mourners such were the Praeficae among the old Romans These therefore in a doleful tone cry out as the wild Irish do O hone Timminny Dooshinca Alas my Dear why hast thou left me was I not obedient to to thee in all things was I not careful of thy House did I not bring thee fine Children hadst thou not all things in abundance Or thus Why wouldst thou die hadst thou not a fair Wife pretty Children much Goods good Clothes and Brandy-wine enough As soon as any one is dead they open the windows and set a Bason of holy Water for the Soul to bath in and a Bowl of Wheat at the head of the Corps that he may eat having a long Journey to go After this they put on his feet a pair of black-shoes and some Copeakes or pieces of money in his Mouth with a Certificate in his hand from the Metropolite of the place to St. Nicholas of his life and conversation If any one dies without Confession and Extreme-Unction he is denied Christian burial Such as are kill'd or frozen to death are brought into the Zemzky precaus an Office for that and many other trials and there they are exposed to view three or four dayes if any own them they are carried away if not they are sent to the Bosky or Boghzi Dome i.e. God's House which is a great pit in the fields arched over wherein they put an hundred or two hundred and let them rest till Midsummer and then the Popes go and bury them and cover them with earth Thirty daies after burial they read the Psalter over daily upon the Grave having a little Booth made up of Mats to shelter them from the weather but what their meaning is in this I cannot understand In the Carnaval before Quadragessima or Lent they give themselves over to all manner of debauchery and luxury and in the last week they drink as if they were never to drink more Some drink Aqua-vitae four times distill'd until it fire in their mouths and kindle a flame not unlike that of Bocca di inferno which issues out at their throat if they have not milk given them to drink they presently die Much wiser in my judgment are our English Bully-rocks who love to keep fire at its due distance no less then a Pipes length off their Noses These drinking bouts are commonly attended with quarrels fightings and murthers This custom the Jovial Poet look'd upon no less then barbarous Inter potandum pugnare Thracum est barbarum tollite morem verecundumque rixis prohibete Bacchum Some of these going home drunk if not attended with a sober companion fall asleep upon the Snow a sad cold bed and there they are frozen to death If any of their acquaintance chance to pass by though they see them like to perish yet will they not assist them to avoid the trouble of examination if they should die in their hands For those of the Zemsky precaus will extort something out of every bodies purse who comes to their Office 'T is a sad sight to see a dozen people brought upright in a Sledge frozen to death some have their arms eaten off by Dogs others their faces and others have nothing left but Bones Two or three hundred have been brought after this manner in the time of Lent By this you may see the sad consequence of drunkenness the Epidemick distemper not only of Russia but of England also CHAP. V. Of their Imagery Pictures exchanged in the God market saved in Constagrations they highly prize them bestow Jewels on them The punishment of a Woman who stoll her pearl from an Image though in case of necessity Heresie punished Of their Friars and Nuns THeir Imagery is very pitiful painting flat and ugly after the Greek manner I asking why they made their God's so deformed they answered me they were not proud When a Picture is worn out they bring it into the God-market where laying it down they chuse out a new one and deposite money for the exchange for they must not be said to buy it if the money be not enough the God-maker shoves it back and then the Devoto adds more till the other be satisfied An obliterate Image they put into the River and crossing themselves bid it Prosti i. e. Farewell Brother And if any of their Brethren meets with Jove he turns into Neptune and they crossing themselves cry Prosty Bradt God be with you Brother In time of fire they strive above all things to save their Images but if they escape not the Conflagration they must not be said to be burnt but gone up If a Church be burn'd they say it is ascended they must not say burn'd These are their pretty ridiculous distinctions 't is wonder they do not with Anaxagoras affirm Snow to be black Sometimes they will hold their Gods to the fire trusting they can help them if they will A Fellow thinking to have staid the fire by that means held his Micola so long that he had like to have been burnt himself and seeing he did him no good he threw him into the midst of the fire with this curse Noo Chart. i. e. The Devil take thee They bestow Jewels upon them of a great value This year a Woman who had formerly adorn'd her Micola with some Pearl being necessitated came to the Church and pray'd Micola to lend her some of his Jewels for she was at present in great want the dumb brute not speaking any thing to the contrary she thinking silence gave consent made bold to take a Ruby or two off him but the Pope spying her complains to the Justice who commanded both her hands to be cut off which was done three months since In their private houses they do ordinarily give and take as they thrive in their business for if they have any great losses they will come home and rob Micola to his shirt Herosie among the Russes is punished with fire The Heretick goes up to the top of a little house and so jumps in and upon him they throw straw and Luchines which are dry splinters of Fir-wood these being fir'd soon soffocate him Satis superque severa est hac animadversio The Fryars and Nuns are not so strict as in the Roman Church The Fryars are great Traders in Malt Hops all sort of Corn Horses Cattle and whatsoever else may but enrich them The Nuns go
some of his handsome Tartar and Polish slaves he urged him being an old Widdower either to marry or refrain the Court. For the Russians highly extoll marriage partly to people their Territories and partly to prevent Sodomy and Buggery to which they are naturally inclined nor is it punished there with Death A lusty Fellow about eight years since being at this beastly sport with a Cow cry'd to one that saw him Ne Misheay do not interrupt me and now he is known by no other name over all Muscovy then Ne Misheai Eliah at present having had an Apoplectick fit is disabled in body and mind and knows no body without being told His miss had been the greater had not that great States-man Nashockin succeeded and suppli'd his place in many Offices It was this Nashockin who concluded the peace with Poland upon honourable terms and finished the League with Swedland He is now made Chancellor of the Embassadors Office Treasurer Lord of Russia minor and has several other Offices He contriv'd the Silk-trade through Russia and 't is thought all the Indian Trade will be drawn that way He is now about reforming the Russian Laws and new modelling all the Czardom There shall be no delatory Suites all Governours with their Assistants shall have power of life and death for before all Criminals were brought to Mosco with no less trouble than charge to the Czar This same counsel Jethro gave to Moses This Nashockin is one who will not be corrupted he is a very sober abstemious man indefatigable in business an admirer of Monarchs Speaking about the French and Danâ— siding with the Hollander against England he brake forth into these words I wonder that these two King 's should have no more prudence or reason than to support or countenance such Boors against the Monarch of England who should rather joyn together with the rest of the Princes in Europe to destroy all Republicks which are no better than the Nurseries of Heresie and Rebellion I have heard him say that 't is the Czars interest to keep a good correspondence with the King of England above any other Christian Prince He is the only Patron the English have Being sollicited to admit of English goods he produced the London Bill of Mortality wherein very few dyed of the Plague notwithstanding said he how do we know but the Goods may be brought out of some of the infected houses and one spark of fire will kindle a whole sack of Charcoale 'T is a strange custom to publish your infirmities Beggars indeed expose their ulcers to to raise commiseration and get relief But they who proclaim the Pâ—st give a caveat against all commerce of them as men set up lights to keep ships off their coasts Another thing seems strange unto us that Royal Letters are often sent privately to us in in behalf of private men to demand Justice as if our Czar had not made sufficient provision for Strangers as well as Natives We seldom have any such applications from any other Prince but that of Denmark where we hear they are purchas'd at a cheap rate What they cost in England we know not but what have we to do with the customs of other Nations Their clothes will not fit us nor our cloths them thus he ended his discourse abruptly and if he had spoken more then he had mind should be repeated But by this you may judge tanquam ex unque leonem that he is a great Politician and a very grave and wise Minister of State not inferiour peradventure to any one in Europe CHAP. XXIII The Czars description His answer to a Stranger How he appears in publick He never visits any Subject His Court without noise He seldom dines publickly At Easter his Subjects kiss his hand How he pays his Strelsies What he has done to employ the poor The Czaritza governs the Women From whence the Emperour 's chief Revenues proceed I shall now give you a further description of the Czar He is a goodly person about six foot high well set inclin'd to fat of a clear complexion lightish hair somewhat a low forehead of a stern countenance severe in his chastisements but very careful of his Subjects love Being urged by a Stranger to make it death for any man to desert his Colours he answer'd it was a hard case to do that for God has not given courage to all men alike He never appears to the people but in magnificence and on Festivals with wonderful splendor of Jewels and Attendantâ— He never went to any Subjects house but his Governours when he was thought past all recovery His Centinels and Guards placed round about his Court stand like silent and immoveable Statues No noise is heard in his Pallace no more than if uninhabited None but his Domesticks are suffer'd to approach the inward Court except the Lords that are in Office He never dines publickly but on Festivals and then his Nobility dine in his presence At Easter all the Nobility and Gentry and Courtiers kiss the Emperours hand and receive Eggs. Every meal he sends dishes of meat to his Favourites from his own Table His stores of Corn and dry'd flesh are very considerable with these he pays his Strelsies or Janzaries giving them some cloth but very little money for they have all Trades and great Priviledges The Emperour with his Pottash Wax and Honey he buys Velvet Sattin Damask cloth of Gold and Broad-cloth with which he gratifies his Officers for their service He hath now seven Versts off Mosco built Work-houses for Hemp and Flax in that good order beauty and capacity that they will employ all the poor in his Kingdom with work He hath allotted many miles of wast Land for that design The Czaritza is to govern the womens side for her use and profit Thus the Czar improves the Manufactures of his Countrey feeds all the Labourers as cheap as we do our Dogs And lays up the money that comes out of the Cabacks Bath stoves Tart Pitch Hemp Flax Honey Wax Caviare Sturgeon Bellusa and other salted and dry'd fish from Astracan Cazan the Lake Belsira and many other Lakes and Rivers with which the Countrey abounds especially Syberia in the latter CHAP. XXIV The Czar goes every year to a house of pleasure call'd Obrasawsky Of the curious tents erected there How cautious the Emperour is of letting the vulgar sort behold his pastimes This commended for several reasons None are to petition the Czar in the fields What hapned to a poor Russian Captain for so doing The Emperours resentment for his death Peter Solticove turn'd out of Office and banished the Court the cause why Nashockin put in his place The Czar in the night time visits his Chancellors desks He has Spyes in every corner 'T is death to reveal any thing spoken in the Court The Russians answer to inquisitive persons The Czars children how attended they are bound to keep secrecie EVery year towards the latter end of May the