there are 3 at Novogorod which bring up yearly Ten Thousand Gilders and so all others according to proportion The Imposition upon Iron Corn Salt Tar Furs and other Commodities are very considerable If so the Revenues of this Prince be Great so likewise his Court is as sumptuous and House-keeping very Royal besides the vast Charges in maintenance of the Strelitzers who are exactly and duly paid Their Laws as we have elsewhere said are very rigorous against Malefactors and quite different from other Nations The first and lightest is the Battoki which is when the Patient is to lie upon his belly then come two men one sitting down upon his Neck and the other upon his Leggs who beat him till the Judge or Officer commands them to hold up The Knutten is a Punishment of a higher degree and such as usually those that sell Brandy Metheglin or Tobacco without a special License from the Czar are punished with and is after this manner The Executioners Servant takes the patient and strips him from the middle downwards and takes him upon his back which done the Executioner with a scourge of Thongs made of a raw Elks-hide dried gives him a certain number of stripes according to a Ticket which is delivered him immediately before he takes the scourge in his hand This punishment is exceeding severe and yet not sufficient to suppress continual smuckling and selling by stealth which the more they are punish'd and threatned the more eager they are to do it The Executioner and his Office are not there so contemptible as with us for it is sometimes purchased by the most wealthy Merchants in the Land Other Crimes are punished with Chapping off a Hand or a Foot and sometimes only a Finger according to the enormity of the crime False Coiners have liquid mettal poured down their Throats and Ravishment of Virgins or as our Laws call it a Rape is expiated by gelding of the Delinquant of which if he recover well and good but it is very rare that any does CHAP. IX Celebration and Solemnity of Palm-Sunday The Departure of the Author out of Moscou to Astrachan Heads and Officers They set Sail. A heavy storm Arrival at Nisen-Novogorod Plenty of Provision at Nisen A description of the famous River Wolga Beginning of the Cerem Tartars Their Customs and Nature Their Idolatrie Ceremonies about the Dead Their Habit Polygamy c. ON the 18 th of April being Palm-Sunday was celebrated a great Feast wherein was much Triumph and Joy manifested with Arches and Pageants amongst which was our Savior his manner of riding to Ierusalem This Solemnity was performed with an infinite number of People and led by the Emperour himself in Person attended with all the Bojars and the greatest personages about Court The Patriarch sat upon a Horse apparelled all in white representing the L. Jesus Christ The Czar being supported by two Bojars led the Horse by the Bridle being richly apparreled with an Imperial Diadem upon his Head The Patriarch as was said before was arrayed with a long white Stole with a Hierarchichal Infula or Mitre upon his Head richly set with Pearls In his right Hand was a Cross of Gold set with Diamonds and precious stones with which he signed the Multitude that came thronging to him with great Reverence and Devotion He sat cross over the Horse which Horse was set out with splendid Trappings and richly Capparison'd after the manner of an Ass On each side the Patriarch went several Bishops and the Superior Clergy with white Surplices Having Thuribles The Host the Chalice the Pax Books Bells Tapours and other things used at Mass besides a great number of Flags The Way from the palace to the Crescent was all laid with Red-cloath Here it was where the Patriarch first took Horse the Horse being there tied to a pale After the Patriarch follow the Bojars bearing a huge Tree woven and wound with Silk and Ribbons as also many sorts of Fruits thereto annexed Herein sate several litle Children with Apples green Twigs and Branches After all came the Mobile strowing the way with Branches which they had in their Hands crying out Hosanna Son of David blessed is he that commeth in the name of the Lord Hosanna in the Highest c. When they were returned to the Crescent the Patriarch gave the Benediction to the Multitude and so the Procession ended In the Evening the Patriarch sent the Czar 200 Roebels for his good service in leading the Horse I also saw their Paschal Solemnities at what time they continually kiss one another at meeting saying Christ is risen with one delivering a died Egg and therefore at this time they have many Booths all over the Town where they have Eggs of all colours to sell These Ceremonies are so universally observed that none passes the street without giving and receiving of Eggs of what Condition or Degree soever they be Towards the Evening they entertain one another every one in the best manner he can as well Clergy as Laïty and now are all the Taphouses or Kabacks crouded with men where they toss off whole Bowls of Metheglin Brandy and strong Beer till they fall together by the Ears On the 4 of May we departed with a Strough from Moscou which was laden with Ammunition and provision We were 15 men in all who were sent down with this Vessel We made quick passage down the River for the next day we arrived at Colomna which is 134 English Land-miles by Water but thwart the Land about 50. This City is well fortified with a strong Wall and many Turrets It is seated upon the Mosqua having a long Wooden Bridge over that River On the 6 dito we came into the River Oka making a deep and broad stream where it unites with the Mosqua Here we saw a very fair Village called Dydenof by some Gedino and about the Evening we arrived at the Wharf where the Ship Eagle lay having the Imperial Paludiments on her Stern We were very kindly received by the Heer Cornelius Roeckhoven Coll and Mr. Lambert the Master who expressed great joy for our arrival Besides those were other Officers preferred aboard the Ship to wit Monsr Stark Lieut. Coll. 2 Captains a Chirurgeon a Jeweller an Interpreter and a Purser Their Pay was as follows The Collonel 100 Rix-dollars per Moneth The Lieutenant Collonel 30 The Captains 40 The Chirurgeon 20 The Interpreter 10 The Purser 10 Captain Butler 160 Gilders The Master of the Ship 100 The Mate 60 The Carpenter 80 Carpenters Mate 36 Foremast-men each 50 My self 57 Our whole Company consisted in 20 Dutch On the 12 we set Sail from Dydenof which was the Wharf where the Ship Eagle was built conducted by the Col. Boekhoven about 2 leagues downward The same day in the Afternoon we came to a Town called Nicholo where we found provision incredibly cheap Here I bought some Wild-fowl in the Market about as big as Wild-gees for a
that Island A Description of the said Island It 's Unfruitfullness and want of fresh water A Debate held among the English to leav the Dutch upon the Island Departure from Ascension Arrival at Kingsale in Ireland Their Departure from thence Arrival at Bristol and finally at Home Pag. 354. DIRECTIONS For the BOOK BINDER How to place the PLATES The City Judia Pag. 27 The Massacring of the Mandorins and great Personages in Syam Pag. 45 Tenedos Pag. 91 Pathmos Pag. 93 Delos or Delphos Pag. 110 Astrachan Pag. 177 Radzin throwing the Persian Lady into the Wolga Pag. 187 Sturgeon-taking Pag. 199 The Tartars on Horseback Pag. 204 Mount Ararat Pag. 214 The Card of the Caspian Sea Pag. 222 The City Scamachy in Persia Pag. 239 The manner of bringing the Kings Concubines in Persia to Court Pag. 260 A Woman flea'd alive Pag. 270 Ispahan Pag. 316 Persepolis Pag. 332 Scyras or Sieras Pag. 338 Gammeron Pag. 35â— Moschate Pag. 352 The Massacre in Astrachan Pag. 360 THE Perillous and most Unhappy TRAVELS of JOHN STRUYS Through Italy Turky Persia Tartary East-India Moscovia c. CHAP. I. The first Occasion of the Authors going to Travel A Sea-Storm Arrival at Gibralter at Genua with it's Description at Velez Malaga Rescontre with 9 Corsairs of Algiers Arrival at Boa Vista A Description of the Salt Islands Ilha Mayo Ilha del Fuogo St. Jago and Ilha del Brava Proper Climat of those Isles Arrival at Sierra Liones The great Incivilitie of the King allured to come aboard fettered and afterward thrown over board A Description of Sierra Liones WEll worthy of remark is that Observation of a modern Sage Despair drives a man either to the Camp or a Convent With no less reason may we add That the insubid Resolutions and Praecipitance of youth lead either to illicit Arts or Travel which last was a Misfortune fatal to my self My Fathers sole Care was to see me train'd up in some laudable Vocation or other whereby I might for the future be in a capacity to acquire my necessary sustenance without being burthensom to my Relations or the use of any dishonourable Mean or Practise And to that end put me out to a Sail-maker He now perceiving some hopeful Prospect of Good in my Undertakings was ever studious to give me all the Incouragement he could on his part and to show the Affection incumbent on a Parent restrain'd me as far as in him lay from going abroad or associating my self with such Company as might be obnoxious or destructive to those good Maxims he had given me But various are the Tempers and Dispositions of Youth and sometimes their frame of spirit so occult that the piercing Judgements of riper Years cannot sound it although it were with the Eies of Eagles My Father whose Rigour was somewhat more than tolerable was never remiss in reprehending me for any noted Vice so that for some bad deportment he once took occasion to Chastise me and that with such severity that I resolved to take my leave both of him and my native Land At that time there were two Ships fitted out and bound for Genua the one was called The St. John Baptist Henry Christansz of Amsterdam Master the other The St. Bernard Iohn Benning of VVesep Vice-Commander and Herman Voogd of Schiedam Master Over both these Ships was Mr. Iohn Maas of Dunkirk as Upper-Commander The former was mounted with 28 Guns the latter carried 26. I hired my self aboard the St. I. Baptist for Under-Sailmaker being then about 17 years old never troubling my self either whither we were bound or how long we were to be out On the 26 of December 1647. By Gods good Conduct we set Sail from the Texel but were hardly got without the Gaats ere we found that our Ships were not duly poiz'd and thereupon were fain to Tack about and put in at the Texel again where we unloaded part of the Ships-burthen and took in a considerable quantity of Pewter some Boxes of Quicksilver and other ponderous Materials to Ballast us well at the Keel which when we had done and all ready we set out the second time that was upon the 4 day of Ianuary 1648 and with a brave Wind we passed the Spaniards Gat driven with some Shoals of Ice it being then Frosty weather Seawards On the 10 of Ianuary we were forced by a contrary wind to put in at the Downs where after two days aboad we weighed anchor having both Wind and Weather favourable But soon after by a heavy Storm and rough Sea we were forced again to put into some other Harbour which we did at the Isle of VVight there we stay'd till the 25 th when the Weather began to grow more moderate and the high Winds abated Under hopes that this good Weather would continue we fet sail but were no sooner out of the Bay before the Weather changed and we now the third time forc'd to look out for a Harbour On the 6 of February we came to Anchor at Portland where we road three days and then set sail directly for the Bay of Gibralter where we arrived on the 10 th of that moneth The next day with a brisk gale we entred the Straits and with a constant and favourable wind made Genua in 15 days where arriving we dropp'd Anchor behind the Mold On the 32 th we got Prattica and Licence to unload both the Ships which done the Men were paid off and dismiss'd The Ships as we said before were sold to the Duke of Genua which he furnished with Provision of Victuals Powder Shot and other Ammunition for 2 years Aboard each Ship were a Hundred Dutch taken into service the rest for the most part Italians amongst which were a few of the Banditti Here I hired my self for Upper-Sailmaker and had 18 Livers per Moneth although neither I nor any else that went before the Mast knew whither or upon what Design Having now regain'd my liberty I long'd to satisfy my curiosity in taking a view of the Town with what else was worthy of remark Genua is seated on the Sea side having a very commodious and complete Haven on the South facing the Coâ—st of Affrica The City is built partly on montanous and hilly ground and partly on a Level seated between two velleys and is computed to be abut 6 Italian Miles in circumference being very well and close built munited with strong Walls sufficient enough to resist a small Attacque but would not secure the Town in a long and durable Siege or violent Storms without the Militia Their Militia consists of some Dutch and Corsican Companies together with a few small Troops of Horse which are constantly in motion either on the Sea-side or thro the City to prevent if need require any silent Attacque and suppress Mutinies as also to secure the Coasts from Turkish and other Pyrats which sometimes come ashoar in their Shalops to get Slaves and Spoil They have alwaies
and put out a white Flag in token of Friendship which they observing did the like But we were greatly dismay'd when we saw a great number of men running down the Hills toward us with Bows Arrows and Darts so that we not daring to trust our selves to them concluded our safest way was to return and row back again to our Ships but they perceiving that one of them cried out Be not afraid but come boldly to land we will do you no harm we give you liberty to come ashoar Capt. Maas told us that he had been there in that Island before and that a Slave of his whom he had taught to read and write had run away from him there having taken his opportunity when the Ship was ready to set Sail and that he had heard how the Slave was come to great Advancement and by the Natives elected King So soon as we were got to land we were introducted by the King himself and his Attendants into his Pallace which was in the midst of a Sconce reasonably strong and environ'd with Palizados The House was hung with neat Mat-work and the Floors covered with the same The King presently began to inquire What for People that we were and to what place our Ship belong'd for he could see by her Colours that we did not come out of Holland The Commander made answer that we were Hollanders but were then in the service of the Duke of Genua to whom the Ships belong'd After they had exchanged a few Words together the Commander assumed the liberty to ask him Where he had learned to speak Dutch I have been quoth he formerly in East India and was at that time a Slave to one Iohn Maas a Marriner and intending for Holland we were surpriz'd with a dismal Hurricano which disabled us of our Masts and made us in such a Condition that we were forced to put in here to Calk and fit us out again but I having no great appetite â— proceed on our Voyage deserted my Master when I saw the Ship was ready to sail Well quoth the Captain was not your name Diembro Yes replies the King do you know me Why said the Captain do you not know Iohn Maas The King was hereupon in a great stupor but viewing him thorowly began to remember his Countenance and with that embraced and kissed him While they stood mute a while and staring one another earnestly on the face both stupifyed at this strange meeting the King began thankfully to acknowledge how good a Master our Commander had been to him and presented him all necessary Provision gratis but the Commander courteously declined it saying He estemed it a sufficient Favour to exchange Wares for Wares The King according to the custome of that Country presented our men the use of his Wives and Concubines who coming forth made choice of such as they would have and went aside with them This kind Tender was as freelâ— accepted as offered by the greatest part of our Ships-folk whâ— were not very shy to enter into Conjunctions with that tawny Brood but what monstrous Complexions they afterward brought into thâ— world I only guess since our aboad there could not be long I may not ommit the fatal Difference and Misunderstanding of our Offiâ—cers among themselves occasioned upon the Decease of Capt. Johâ— Benning who commanded the S. Bernard The Chief Commandeâ— Maas together with the rest of the Officers thought fit to pâ— Henry Christians Master of the St Iohn Baptist in his place and Hoâ—man Voogt in the placc of H. Christians but Voogt did not approveâ— this Transposition and let the Chief Commander know that â— would not abandon his Board and Right unless he would fetâ— him away by force thereupon he brought up all the Guns out â— the Hold and put himself in a Posture of defence The next moâ—ning by break of Day our Commander with some of the Oâ—cers descrying that the Red Flag was put out aboard the St. Bâ—nard were not a litle alarm'd immediately gave order that we shoâ— also with all possible expedition put our selves in a Fightinâ— posture which was don in a moment Our Commander undeâ—standing that Vooght had sent off a boat with intent to fetch wateâ— sent out the Shallop as full of men as could well stand all wâ— armed who row'd as hard as they could till they overtook the othâ— boat which they brought back The men being come aboard tâ— Commander gave order to put them in Fetters till he could haâ— better information about their intention with that the Commanâ— made as if he would lay the St. Bernard aboard closing up wâ— her Bow Harman Voogt seeing himself in a great Strait and for wâ— of men hardly in a capacity to maintain his Pretences was muâ— disheartned and after he had advised the matter more fully wâ— himself thought good to let out the Shallop and go aboard â— Commander the men incessantly crying out Let our Captain and Mâ— return without any molestation or by Heaven and Earth we will either sink be sunk we are resolved either to loose our own lives in his Vindication or yours an Expiation without either giving or taking Quarter Yet notwithstandiâ— all this their Schipper was no sooner come aboard but the Commanâ— gave order to bring him upoÌ„ the Quarter Deck where he was made â— hand and foot and after him the first and second Mate together with the rest of the Officers were brought up and immediatly clapt into shakles The foremast men seeing themselves outwitted by the Commanders Politie began to loose their Courage and after a mature deliberation among themselves concluded it the safest way to surrender themselves and Ship to the Commander This done a Council of War was held and the Captive Officers Voogt himself only excluded were brought into the great Cabin where the Council for the time being was assembled and asked which they would rather chuse To burn with their Ship or To serve the Commander faithfully without murmuring They conceiving that there was no hopes of avoiding some severe Penalty or other which the Council perhaps had designed in case of their continuing refractory chused the latter and with one humbly begged pardon for their misdemeanours promising for the future not to be factious in any Uproar or the Occasion of Tumult Upon these Supplications the Council sat again and came to this Result That their former misbehaviour should be connived at but Voogt the Master to continue in Irons till we came again to Genua where he should be banished upon the Galleys during the term of life as a condign Punishment for his obstinate Rebellion However to prevent any mutinous consultations which might otherwise find opportunity and detard our Voyage the Ships companies were mixed and counterchanged some of our men sent aboard the St. Bernard and others from the St. Bernard in lieu of them brought over to us In the mean while we recreated our selves with the
after she had been thus treated by these sensual bruits that rather than to deny their beastly appetite made a Bawdy house of our Ship was after much intreaties put ashoar and delivered to her Husband who inhumanly mangled heâ— till she died On the 28 we weighed anchor and set sail for Indraepoura taking by the way two Iunks more loaden with Pepper Camphiâ— and other Druggs and Spices On the 29 we arrived at Indrapoura where we took in some necessary Provision and Refreshments thinking by the way to meet with more small Prizes but had noâ— our expectation On the 2 of July we left Indrapoura and so set sail for thâ— Straits of Sunda When we had got the height of Toppers hook wâ— met 14 Sail of Ships belonging to the Dutch East-India company which were sent out by express order of the General and the Council to bring us up whether willing or unwilling So sooâ— as our commander had received the Message he returned answer That he was not under the command of the General and thaâ— if they should assail him he was resolved to fight in his owâ— defence The Dutch commander was hereat in a doubt and sent â— Batavia for new Instructions It was not long before he got an Ordeâ— from the General with a Ship of War to assist him in case of Opposition and thereupon imperiously commanded him to strike threatning to fire a whole tear of Guns in case of refusal Capt. Maas who seeing himself now in a great Strait and the uneasiness of his Ships-folk called together all the Officers to consult the matter when after mature deliberation they concluded it more safe to surrender themselves and give their Masters a true account of the business seeing they were not able to defend themselves against such a number of Ships This Resolution was very acceptable to the Ships-company who since that division and uproar at Madagascar were still at odds continually jarring among themselves and long'd for this or the like opportunity The Company now made Masters of our Ships brought them up to Batavia where we arrived the 12 of Iuly Our Ships outsail'd the rest by far we arriving at the Haven 6 or 8 hours before them so that if we had been willing might have left them and made our escape by night On the 15 came Captain vander Meulen aboard with an Order from the Heer vander Liin then General to take possession of the Ship Assoon as he was aboard went into the great Cabin where he examin'd us one by one All the Dutch were brought abaft and afterwards committed to the Javans Corps du Garde The Italians and other Strangers remain'd aboard and in the mean while pillaged our Chests and took all the money they could come at They being now at liberty and dismissed went every man where he best liked the Italians mostly to Goa or Banthem but the Hamburgers and others imbarqu'd themselves for Europe Shortly after the Commander died and by several tokens he had on his body was supposed to be poysoned and as some conjecture was done by those which were left aboard the Ship when we were carried ashoar After we had now lain about 14 days in prison we delivered a Petition desiring Inlargement which was not only granted but by Order of the General all our Arrearages pay'd us to the utmost penny and a Choice preferr'd us Whether we would return home or List our selves in the Companies service some rather chused to go home but I with the most part of the men accepted of the latter I hired myself as Sailmaker for the Term of three years at 18 Gild. per moneth On the 15 Ianuary I was put aboard the Black Bear bound for Siam where we safely arrived and cast anchor in the Bay The Kingdom of Siam lies in the most Easterly part of East India from 7 to 8 degr Northerly Latitude There are many Cities and Towns of note in it and those very populous among which India is the chief being the Metropolis of India extra Gangem and the city where the King has his Court and Residence The land is very fertile affoarding all that may serve for the delight and sustenance of human Bodies the Fields stored with many sorts of Cattel the Rivers with Fish and the Towns with Magazines of rich Merchandizes The Inhabitants are of a tawny and yellowish complexion and superstitious Pagans in Religion as appears by their great Zeal in adorning of their Temples and strict Reverence for their Priests which are here too great and numerous for the Laity Their Government is Monarchical and the King for many ages has been absolute Sovereign over this and the neighbouring Territories and Dominions and that with as much Power Grandour and Reverence from the Subject as any Potentate or King under the canopy of Heaven In short Siam in regard of it's Fertility Wealth Number of Inhabitants and subordinat Principalities may paralel any other Empire iâ— the Universe Iudia which as we have already said is the Imperial Towâ— of Siam lies about 16 degrees Northerly Latitude from the Aequâ—tor and is seated on one of the fairest Rivers without doubt in all the Eastern World where a Ship of the greatest burthen may come up close to the Kay to load or unload without fear oâ— sustaining dammage The Land is for the most part level of a clay and sandy earth â—ew Hills appear or any thing else seems to surmount the Horizon â—ve the high Towers and Pyramids whereof we found an increâ—ible number About 8 leagues up the River is a small City of a triangular Plat-â—orm and environed with a wall called Bankok In the same City 〈◊〉 the Kings first Toll-or Custome-house which they call the Canon â—ankok and every Ship and Junk to whomsoever they belong are â—bliged to come to anchor there and give in their information upon â—hat account they come and from whence as also what Men and â—oods they have aboard Having performed that Duty they pay â—eir Toll and receive their Billet with Letters of Conduct to â—o so far up as they list till they come within a League of Iudia â—here the second Toll-house is called the Canon Bantenau and â—ere they are a second time bound to anchor and exhibit their Cocâ—ets which having shown they have their liberty to go further This â—cond Canon is erected only to see that the Prince have his due â—nd to examin whether that the Stranger be not defrauded by the commissioners of the first and to give Licences to enter the Town â—nd traffique It is also to be understood that when any Ship is â—utward bound they are to pay their Toll at the Canon Bantenau â—hich at coming up was the second now the first Custome-House and are to pass an Examen at the Canon Bankok as they did â—efore at the other without paying any thing if they can manifest 〈◊〉 their Cocket that they have already paid and this every
Sea into which its disgorges its self Tweer is something greater than Torstock and is built on the side of a Hill from whence it has it's name Here is also the Place where the River of Torstock incorporates with the Wolga making a great and loud noise where the Floods are hurried in together This City like Torstock makes a greater Show abroad than it does within being neither well built nor at all fortified save only with a Wall of Wood and 2 or 3 Brass Cannon on the Land side Here we took out our Baggage and laid it again upon Sledges taking our way through the Woods where we were assail'd by two Russians a foot but upon what account I know not First they began to make a quarrel and so boldly offered to strike with their Axes saying that they were upon their own Ground and that we were a parcel of Rogues and Vagabonds c. To which some of our Company who could speak the Language prai'd them not to molest us as they tendred their Welfare and that we had no time to stand disputing and answering their impertinent Objections This not availing or perswading them to be quiet but rather made them worse for they came closer and closer to us which Capt. Butler observing fell a caning them whereupon they retired a litle as if they would go away but all on a sudden came running in upon us full drive with their Axes upon which three of our Company levelled their Musquets but the Captain forbad to fire and let the Mastive loose upon them The Mastive flies directly at one of them and had him so fast by the Throat that we had much ado to get him off the other seeing his Mate so hard put to it ran away as fast as he could but the Dog being loose flew after him and tore off his left ear and had we not done our indeavour to take him off had rent him all to pieces So soon as we had got rid of them we proceeded on our way and at night came to Gorodna where we staid till morning On the 24 ditto we went forward passing over 2 Rivers where we came to a Village called Sawidowa and at night came to Saulka Spaz which was our Stage Here we provided our selves again with fresh Horses but not without much difficulty for in the mean time we were very uncivilly treated by the Inhabitants whom we found mightily inclined to quarrel with us although without occasion On the 25 we took our leaves of Saulka Spaz going over a large plain and at night came to a village called Klien where for want of Moneys we were forced to stay till we had an Express from Moscou which came not before the 4 of December following at which time came also one of the Domesticks of the Heer van Sweden Kinsman to Captain Butler bringing the unwelcom news of his Masters Sickness whom the Physicians judged to be past recovery The Captain upon the opening of the Letter was sadly dejected and immediatly took Horse and rode post for Moscou leaving us Order the next day to follow with the Baggage In the mean time it began to snow hard insomuch that we were forced to tarry 6 days at Klien On the 11 we set forward having fair Weather which at our setting out seemed to be durable On this days Journey we met with Rivers which we were to pass over that hindred us not a litle by reason that the Floats were so litle not able to carry above 3 or 4 Horses at a time with Sledges and Wagons At night we arrived at Serkisowo where we took up our Night-lodging In the mean time it froze so hard that we were all benummed and fain to run after the Waggons to keep our selves Warm On the eleventh ditto we went through several thick Woods of Juniper where we saw abundance of Foxes playing together in the Sun About 3 in the afternoon we arrived at Nicholo Direverno from whence we could see the long-wish'd-for Moscou About Evening we entred the Suburbs where by one of our own Nation we understood that the Heer van Sweden was deceased and that the Ship was fit for Lanching On the 12 th we had order to come into the City and had Appartments provided us near the House of the Heer van Sweden Our Landlady had so little satisfaction in the Guests that were appointed to have quarters with her that she addressed herself to Court to desire that we might be brought some where else but instead of obtaining her Request was sent home with a hundred strokes on the Ribs for her pains When she came in she ran into a back-room where was the Image of St. Nicholas painted upon a Plank and falling down prostrate before it shed a shower of Tears However she was forced to content her self for 14 days longer during which time we made good chear and spared not for Fewel in the Stoves And albeit the Woman was so dissatisfied at our being there yet her Husband could have wish'd us there the whole year round for our Brandy and Tabacco sake On the 27 we had order to go into the House of the late deceased Gentleman even now remembred which was a very commodious House and provided with a great Stove which was by reason of the bitter Weather very welcome to us the more because the said House was well furnished with Wood and other fewel for the Winter We stayd here three weeks during which time there was care taken for what we had need of when that time was expired we received sudden Orders forthwith to depart for our wharf at Astrachan On the 19 of Ianuary we brought our Baggage aboard a small Ship that lay about 3 Miles without Moscou At this Place was the Court of the Emperours Sister being a fair Palace but of Wood built after a quaint and artificial manner Here was also the Emperours Bear-Garden being accidentally when we were there a great Concourse of Gentry from Moscou and other places to see the Pastime and the Evening before came the Emperour with the whole Court and Retinue The Theatre was only environed with Stakes and Pales that the People might also see that were without Before they began were brought out about 200 Wolves and Bears and almost twice the number of Dogs all which were drawn in their Kennels set upon Sledges The Emperour and the prime of his Nobles sate in a Gallery made on purpose in a very convenient place to see on every side So soon as the Emperour was set a sign was given upon which a litle Wolf and an old Bear were turned out loose together that after they had encountered about half a quarter of an Hour were parted which notwithstanding their being in the heat of the Fight were easily brought asunder and led to their Kennel The Wolves were afterwards engaged with Dogs of which many lay dead upon the place and others so wounded that they were no
detect his Companions which he manfully endures They are brought before the Osmyn and chained Pag. 206. CHAP. XVIII The Captivs take their leavs of each other The great Orchard near Tzurbag Their Arrival at Urwan Situation of Mount Ararat An accidental meeting with some Carmelite Friars The Author insisted upon to undertake a Cure of a Rupture which with much perswasion he promises to do His ascent up the Mountain Ararat to the Hermites Cell who was his Patient which he performs in 5 days time He undertakes and cures the Rupture The Copy of an Attestation given him by the said Hermite in barbarous Latin His return down Pag. 212. CHAP. XIX The Author put in Chains again He is insisted upon to renounce the Christian Faith and become Mahometan Divers means to that end put in practise by way of Trial. The great gain of warm Baths The Author taken out of Chains He is sold to a Persian The Situation of the Caspian Sea Great Whirlpools in the Bay of Gilan A discourse about the Silk-trade A further Description of the Caspian Sea c. Pag. 218. CHAP. XX. A Description of Derbent it's Walls The Sultans Court. Very old Ruins Divers Watch-towers Multiplicity of Sepulchrets without Derbent Their Slave-market The Author sold again His Patron married with a Polish Woman and runs into Danger of his Life The Intention of his Patroness in running away from her Husband and taking the Author with her Two of Mr. Struys's Companions come to Derbent How they made their escape from the Tartars The great Inclination of the Sultan of Derbent to the Hollanders A Device put in practise to set one of the Authors Companions at Liberty The Prince takes the Wife of Brak for his own Brak makes his escape Pag. 225. CHAP. XXI The great difficulty of getting Wood without Derbent The Author and his company assailed by Robbers two several times The kind nature of his Patron They travel to Scamachy The Hill Barmach The Pit of Naphta Arrival at Scamachy A Description of that City A great Earthquake at Scamachy Abundance of men misfortunatly killed The Author meets with 2 Franciscan Friars A rehearsal of some part of their Discourse their Zeal to get him out of the Service of a Mahometan Advice given him by his Patron He comes first into the Service of the Polish Ambassadour Pag. 235. CHAP. XXII The Hatred and Churlishness of the Ambassadour against the Polish Gentry A Polish Gentleman murthered in his bed The pitiful case and condition of the Polanders who were in the Retinue of the Legate The Ambassadours Greediness He indeavours to turn Mahometan The Authors intention to make his escape Captain Butler and others of his old acquaintance come to Scamachi where they do what they can for the Captivs The Ambassadors Brother goes for Ispahan where he desires to be admitted as a Mahometan but is not received William the Masters Mate of the Ship Eagle comes to Scamachi A great Earth-quake Consecration of Water among the Armenian Christians A great concourse of People and remarkable Ceremonies CHAP. XXIII The Ambassadours Sister goes to Tafflis and with her the Polish Chirurgeon The Corps of an Indian burn'd with a Christian she-slave The Woman having taken in a Potion to provoke sleep is also cast into the furnace Two Men murthered at Scamachi and a tumult thereupon Strange Geremonies about the Dead The Chans son is presented with a Kolotan or Robe of Favour and one of the Kings Wives A man struck dead with staves A fearful Earth-quake The Chan also receives a Robe of Favour and a Wife Pompous Solemnities at the delivery of the same He receives the Princess New Tidings from Russia The Ambassador commanded by the King of Persia to return for Poland but makes his excuse The miserable Estate of the Polish Gentry Theft committed in the Ambassadors Palace A man tortured that was innocent The Polish Chirurgeon fortunatly married at Tafflis Another Corps of an Indian burned with a living Woman The great kindness of Hadsy Biram to the Author His bad entertainment with the Ambassador Pag. 249. CHAP. XXIV The manner of Celebrating New years day among the Persians Advice from Boynak from Derbent Fire-balls fall from the Sky Five Hundred beautiful Damosels sought up for the Scach or Sophy of Persia A quaint mean by which a Merchant saves his Daughter The Author writes to Smarna A Chieftain of the Cosaks brought into Scamachy and is compelled to carry 3 of his Companions Heads in a Bag to Ispahan where he is upon promise of detecting somthing of weight set at Liberty A Persian murthered by a drunken Georgian The murtherer executed by the Brother of the murthered Party A horrible Self-murther committed by several Persons at a Wedding A great Feast celebrated in memory of Hosseyn the 3 d Son of Ali. A terrible Earth-quake The Chans Son dies and is interred Pag. 257. CHAP. XXV News from Astrachan A Woman and Adulteress taken in the Fact A Young Gentleman caned to death by Order of the Prince and Complaint of his Father Another put to the same death One of the Authors Companions goes for Ispahan Hail-stones as big as Eggs. The Author and a Venetian entertained in an Armenian Monastery A Woman taken in Adultery for which she is surrendred up to the Will and Power of her Husband who fleas her alive nails up her Skin upon the Wall and throws her Carcase out into the street The great Jealousie of the Persians The male Children about the Court gelded The great Slave-market at Scamachy The unnatural custom of the Georgians The Ambassadour receives a Charge to depart Pag. 267. CHAP. XXVI A dreadfull Tempest Great Balls of Fire fall upon the Earth A most fearful Deluge whereby Houses Men and abundance of Cattel are carried away The Chan receivs another Robe of Favour The Offerings of the Banjans for the Fowl and Fish The Religious Exercise of the Persian Women The Author's Discourse with the Chan. The Author meets with one of the Tartars who had made him Slave He gets out of the service of the Polish Ambassador The great Bounty and kindness of his Patron Hadzi Biram and of Altine his Patroness One of his Company made free Pag. 273. CHAP. XXVII Their departure out of Scamachi The Countrey about Kasily described and the manner of living of the Inhabitants A Description of the River Araxex The Heath of Mokan whither all the Banditti and Mutinous Persons have recourse Abundance of Tortoises near Balharu The Poverty yet contented Life of the People and Inhabitants there about The Author set upon by Robbers The Carravan Assailed and Plundered A famous stone Bridge The sepulchre of Zeyde Tzeybrail Arrival at Ardebil The Situation of that Town The bitter Cold. Great and raging Whirl-winds Extraordinary good Wheat The great Toll and Duty paid for Sheep Seven and Fifty Towns within the Jurisdiction of Ardebil A Description of the City of it's Streets and of the Street of Strumpets
King had received the double Present he insisted upon twice as much more before he would admitt of our coming ashoar This great incivility so inraged the Commander that he resolved to be revenged upon him and pursuant thereto sent the Long-boat ashoar to entreat him to come aboard where he should receive what his King ship desired The credulous Barbarian made no long pause in the matter but presently with a certain number of his Gentry stept into the Boat and so were brought aboard But his Retinue being too numerous the Commander having regard to our safety would not permit above 5 or 6 to come aboard The King was no sooner got aboard but he ran in all hast to the Great Cabin in hopes of some ample Gift but much mistaken for the Commander gave order that he should be fetter'd which was accordingly done and 4 men appointed to attend him The King was hereat mainly altered but afterward much more when he saw the Commander intended to hang him at the Yards arm which had certainly been had not the Master of the Ship undertaken the Office of a Mediator upon him and made intercession for his Life The Commanders wrath thus pacified he gave order to throw him over board which was immediately obey'd and executed by 4 of the Ships Company who threw him out at the Fore-castle Port But he was so well disciplin'd in swimming that he presently got ashoar His Retinue seeing that with all the hast they could betook themselves immediatly to their Canoes and made as if they would do some prodigious Feat or other or at lest obstruct our coming ashoar to take in what was necessary The Commander whose temper was too couragious to be daunted for a swarm of Flies sent two Boats ashoar to fetch Water and Wood both well Man'd and Arm'd and in spite of all their Force hew'd as much Wood and brought as much Water as they thought might serve our turn The Commander notwithstanding all this was not yet content but remanded the men and Shallops to pillage their Houses and Orchards and set the Kings Neger-house on fire all which they did in a moment The King seeing this thought it high time to put himself in a posture of Defence and in order to that musters up all the Forces he could on a sudden the whole Countrey being Alarmed and appear'd with a number of a Thousand Canoes or more half of each being loaden with Faggots whether to set our Ships on fire or to use them for Shields we could not determine however having obtained our ends we held it best to weigh Anchor and proceed on our Voyage rather than to incurr a needless unprofitable Ingagement with a Company of such contemptible Schoundrels In which Resolution we set sail directing our Course for Madagascar Before we were got out of sight of Sierra Liones we met with a small Flyboat which Traded along that Coast whereof one Iohn Backer of Durgerdam was Master The Master came and proffered his Ship and service to our Commander and Vice-Admiral to conduct us over the Foords and shallow Places of the Red sea and to make use of his Vessel as an advice Yacht But our Ship-master disswaded them to accept of his Tender whereupon he declared that he was unwilling and so declined his Favour This Master had the like Rescontre with that Kings Majesty and for his Churlishness gave him a toss as he told us out of the Cabin-port so that it seem'd a Paradox to us that he would be so void of Prudence as to hazard himself a second time being once before in jeopardy of his Life Sierra Liones both in regard of its ' Copiousness of Fruit and Plenty of Good Water is a very proper place to put in at for Refreshment It abounds with Millets Oranges Lemmons Banans Cocos Wild Grapes and abundance of many other sorts of Fruits as also Sugar canes and a kind of Long pepper It affoards besides Fruit-trees good Timber and Ingredients very usefull in Dying but by reason of our short aboad and want of opportunity to make inspection into the Countrey we could not inform our selves what Product the Land affoarded as peculiar to it self nor to make any advantage of our Landing there except our Refreshment There is good store of Fish and Oysters which ly very thick in the clefts of the Rocks and are extraordinary large and good 'T is true if any be necessitated to put in there for fresh Water they need not be at a loss for there are all along the Coast many choice Rivers which are pure Rain-water that comes from the Mountains but in the Month of May the beginning of the Rain season it is very unwholsom and unapt for use as our Masters Mate told me who was well acquainted with those Parts and is frequently the Occasion of Feavers Fluxes and other perrillous distempers and not only so but is so venemous that where it falls upon the skin of one who is not used to that Climat will cause Tumors and Ulcers and breeds a kind of worm or moth in cloaths which may serve for a Caveat to such as shall be forced to make use of it about that time of the year although it be approved good when it is some days old as if the venemous property were vanished with keeping The Inhabitants are not altogether black but tawny and their bodies cauterized in many places with hot Irons The tips of their Ears and their noses are bored through and hung with Jewels which they hold for passing rare Ornaments Both Men and Women go naked and use no manner of Vesture save only a furcingle or towel made of the barks of Trees which it seems for modesty sake they wear about their Middle Those that inhabit those parts which lie further within Land are Cannibals or Men-eaters but such as dwell near the Sea more civiliz'd and flexible to commerce with Europeans and other Strangers The King with whom we were concern'd was an old ill visaged and homely Man in a Garb tolerably handsom after the Moorish fashion having also a kind of a hat of a grayish colour but neither he nor any of his Retinue had either shoes or stockings but such as they came into the World with CHAP. II. Arrival at Madagascar The remarkable Chance of the Commander meeting with the King The Death of the Vice Commander Benning and the disorders thence arising Both the Ships put in a Fighting Posture and ready to give each other Battel Voogt yields and is fetter'd The description of Madagascar it 's Fertility Store of Cattel Goodness of their Sheep Many kinds of Monkeys Nature of the Inhabitants Form Habit House-keeping Marriages and Funerals Their impious cruelty over their Children Their Religion Policy and Warrs ON the 13 of October we arrived at Madagascar and came to Anchor in the Bay of Anton Gill. So soon as we had cast Anchor we sent forth our Boat
and very spacious Cloysters all which would take up some moneths to make an exact survey of In many streets are Galleries or Piazzas as in Covent Garden where one may walk to avoid either Sun or Rain Here are also many Houses built for Charitable uses where the Sick are relieved with what they stand in need of and every one of those Houses kept very neat and clean especially the Hospital adjoyning to the Church Alla Nunciata Yet above the many famous Structures which grace Florence the House of Prattelino outbraves them all which was built by Francis de Medicis The first you come at is the Palace which is raised upon a square Fund or Platform which entring you have at first view four Chambers that are opposite to one another and stand also in quadrangular form so that the 4 quarters are again subdivided each into 4 less which make 16 Appartments In one of these stand 2 costly Beds one for the Duke and the other for the Dutchess The rest of the Chambers are hang'd with Tapestry and some with Cloth of Gold unspeakably rich and illustrated with artificial and costly Statues which are set in convenient Places thereto ordained In like manner when we went up another story we found 16 Chambers more paralel with the Platform of the former In every one of these was a stately bed the meanest whereof is computed to have cost more than a Thousand Crowns Comeing out of the Pallace you come alla Grotta which is a fair Arch having therin a Fountain that seems rather to be Natural than performed by Art Round about the Fountain are Snakes Adders Lizzards and other Serpents so artificially made in Brass that they might be taken for Living On each Pillar stand Organs which are moved by the force of Water in such manner that they make a most lovely and sweet Harmony The Walls are in several places so thick set with Gems Coral and other things of value that they cannot be perceived The rest is set with Marble About the middle stand fair Alabaster Tables to which if you draw near the Water rises from under your feet and flies all over your head and bodie but indeavoring to shun it you are again saluted after the same manner from another place On the other side is another called Grotta Sibylla which is also very costly and set out with many fair Statues of Marble and Alabastre richly adorned with Coral where are also curious Water-works none ever coming there but is wet with those subterranean Showers On your right hand is the Bath of the Prince which is under full of holes through which the warmth can come to cause Sweat Besides these there is a third Arch which is for the Heat in Summer whither the Duke and his Houshold retire to refrigerate themselves In this Arch is a fair large Table of Alabaster and at each end several Holes in which they set their wine to cool There is belonging to this House a pleasant Garden wherein are many Springs and Ponds and every rare and choice Tree that will like in that Clime Behind this Garden is a Park full of strange Birds and Beasts and therein a stately and delightsom Arbor where the Duke frequently dines in the Summer season and from whence he can view both his Palaces the one within the City and the other without Right over this aforesaid Garden is yet another in the middle whereof is a Chappel where the Duke for the most part goes to Mass and Vespers This Chappel is built round after the manner of the Heathenish Temples of old planted round with Cypress trees and has all its inner works of that Wood. Near to that stands an Image of 24 foot high which will represent Neptune or Thetis made of White marble from whence all the Waters in the Fountains have their Rise upon which if a man stands he hears a wonderfull murmuring and buzzing of Water from below This City is a place of great Traffic and Commerce especially in Silks and Velvets of which I saw many rich shops upon the Ponte Pecchio or Old Bridge The Florentines themselves are very able and skillfull in the Affairs of Merchandise and very litle Traffic don in Italy wherein they have not an interest so that Pope Clement VI called them the fifth Element Besides their domestic and exotic Trade they have given encouragement to and bred up many ingenious and famous Masters in Architecture Painting Carving and other Practical Sciences and Arts and have for a perpetual memory and Gratitude so many stately Pallaces Churches Pictures and Statues left them to Posterity This City is also very Courtly in respect of it's Situation through which all Ambassadours and Ministers of State from forreign Potentates must pass intending for the Court of Rome or Seignory of Venice It is much frequented visited and likewise inhabited by many Private Gentlemen who spend their Estates here and is a choice place to live in as well for Artificial as natural Delights for such as have an Estate to bear it out with However I had litle reason to complain of bad measure during the few daies I staid there For meeting accidentally with a Monk who seeing me to be a Hollander did not only caress me all the time in such manner that I needed not pay any thing either for Lodging or Diet but also show'd me all what was remarkable about the City This Monk understanding that I was short of Moneys and intended for Venice procured me 4 Rix-dollars which was as much as I had occasion for to bear my Charges thither On the 1 st of March I left Florence and took my leave of the Monk whom I thanked for his great Favour and Civility which he had so signally manifested to me a stranger on such an extreme and emergent occasion and tending towards Bologne I was fain to climb over a high steep Mountain and in the valley found the City Bologne lies about 44 degr being a Town of small circumference yet wealthy and full of Inhabitants The form of the City seems to resemble a Ship whereof the Tower d' Asinelli is the Mast It has ever been a Maxim among them not to suffer either Cittadel or Fort to be built under the specious name of Fortification being jealous that under such a colour they might check the Citizens at their pleasure So that the Bologneezes have nothing to rely upon than only the Walls and valour of their men The City is founded on the Banks of the famous Savona which River incorporates with the Rhem a litle above Ferrara by which way all Goods are conveighed The Air is here for the most part moist which renders the circumjacient Countrey very fertile there being the best Meadows and Arable ground in all Italy There is also very good Wine Olives and Oil although Fish they have none except what is brought from a far but Venison in great abundance In this place are made such
Sausages as are sent abroad for great rarities which some would perswade us at home are made of Asses flesh but my curiosity induced me to make such examination of that matter that I found it otherwise for they are made of Pork and Mutton Besides the Traffic in the natural Products of the Land they are great Encouragers of Manufactories and especially in Silks The Streets are very fair and spacious and at each corner is erected a Conduit or Fountain The Houses on the outside seem as if they were quite gone to decay yet within are very sumptuous and costly quite contrary to those in most places in Spain that I have seen where every House by the Frontispiece seems rather a Palace than a private Dwelling yet within nasty full of spiders-webs and void of Utensils pure Emblemes of Hypocrisy During my aboad there I found not any thing extraordinary as worthy of Remark unless the Tower of Garisenda which is built crooked on purpose for a proof of Art although some hold the Churches of this City if taken in general to surpass all others in any particular Town in Italy more especially in regard of the many and rich Images both of Gold and Silver but their ground for such an opinion is so deep that I have not line enough to sound it CHAP. II. The Author departs from Bologne and arrives at Ferrara Assail'd by a Robber His Arrival at Venice where he lists himself in the Armade He arrives at Sante A great storm between Milo and Argenter The Ship called The Golden Cock split upon Rocks A sad Shipwrack A woman wonderfully sav'd The Authors arrival at Candia Departs with a Tartan to the Venetian Armade Their Appearance before Mytilene where they obtain much Spoil and Provision at last assaulted by 200 of the Turkish Chevalrie Their Encounter and return aboard the Fleet. AFter I had staid 2 days at Bologne I set forward for Ferrara where being arrived I found it a dead Town having nothing of Trade but on the contrary many places void and unbuilt a sure and evident token of the declining condition of that City Notwithstanding all that there are many curious Structures in Ferrara especially on the River Po which runs that way and expatiates it self in Trenches or Ditches through the Town It is strengthened with many strong Bulwarks and Ramparts and has many spacious and airy streets with Piazzas on each side along the Houses Besides this I could not find any thing worthy of remark and certainly it was no time for me to consume my small Estate upon such unprofitable Pleasures On the 6 ditto I left Ferrara tending my journey for Chioggio but by the way met a Foot-padder who pillag'd me and took away 2 Rixdollars which were given me by the Monk at Florenza and left me about 20 d to help me to Venice On the 8 th I arrived at Chioggio which is a small City on the Sea-side from whence I could view the long-wish'd-for Venice being but 3 miles distant Here is a very convenient Haven most haunted by Fishers yet has litle other Trading to depend upon except Gardening and that only to supply Venice with Plants and Herbs The prime thing I saw here was an Image of the Virgin with a weeping Child in her arm held by them in great Veneration As for Churches and Cloysters I had neither leisure nor money to gaze at 'em for my Noble was brought to Ninepence and only as much left me as would pay my Passage to Venice where being arrived and paid my naulum I had not a Farthing left Nevertheless I knew that I could list my self when I would and receive advance-money and after a litle Inquiry met with Monsr Theodore de Haan Commander of the Golden Cock who took me on as Sail-maker It was not long before the Ship was in her due equippage and set forth in order to joyn with the Armade of Venice which was upon an Expedition against the Turks in the Dardanelli But de Haan having received letters from Holland about some urgent affairs of his own resigned the Command to his Son and went home by Land On the 10 th of April we set Sail from Venice in company with the Grand St. George which was then commanded by the Sieur Court Adelaar afterwards Admiral of Denmark and lately deceased On the 20 ditto we arrived at Xante where we supplied our selves with fresh Water and took in some Pipes of Wine which is here exceeding good and tolerably cheap for the Barillo a measure of about 5 Gallon or rather more costs but a Scudo that I suppose is equivalent with 5 â— 8 d Sterl which again is vended in the Armade for 6 Crowns On the 22 we departed from Xante directing our course for Milo and on the 5 th of May got the heighth of that Island but did not touch there steering directly between Milo and Argentero and here we came to anchor but too near the coast of Argentero for we were annoyed with mud Upon this arose a great Storm of Wind which rock'd us to and again and at last broke our Cables We endeavored all we could to get Sea room but the Wind being towards the Land drove us flat against the Coast where the Sieur Adelaar seeing us in such danger sent off his Long Boat with 5 or 6 men to fetch a Person of Quality from aboard us who was a Superintendant of some eminent Place under the Jurisdiction of the Common-wealth but all the rest of the Gentry with about an Hundred Soldiers and Marriners stayd aboard Soon after the Ship was cast upon a Rock with the violence of the Sea where she split all in pieces in such manner as no tongue can express nor pen decipher that a Ship of such Burthen like a Plank was thrown so high above Water and in the twinkling of an eie dasht into a Thousand shivers Lamentable it was to hear the pitifull moan of so many that were Parents for their Children Men for their Wives Wives for their Husbands Children for their Parents and every particular for their Friends and Alliance The Master of the Ship and my self got a Mast which what by the boystrous Wind and what by the violence of the Floods did so tumble and roll that we could not keep it in a due ballance so that we thought best to look out for something else and by Heavenly Providence met with the great Hatch which came driving with such force against the Mast that it had almost sent us both to sound the Deep However indeavouring to save our Lives we got fast hold of the Hatch and won the Shoar All the rest were drowned to 19 Men and 2 Women the one whereof was a Venetian Lady whose Husband was a Captain in that Expedition This Gentlewoman after a long and wearisom beating thro the Surges and Foamings of the Sea was thrown mother-naked upon Land but most miserably torn and
stong Tide and most of them were carried to the Seaward that we met whole Shoals of them driving in the stream and amongst them many Christian Slaves which we took up with our Shallops In the mean time the Turks continued their Flight endeavoring with their Galleys to tow away some of the ablest Ships but the Venetians fell so furiously upon them that they were anticipated and only made their escape with 14 which got the Castle for their Refuge Lazaro Mocenigo who was Volunteer and commanded the Sultan formerly taken by the Turks made in with great Courage and cut off their Passage where he lay thundring and firing his Cannon till the General Marcello broke through the middest of the Enemies Armade put them into disorder and kept his own Fleet in good Condition holding still in the Nombril or Center of the Crescent joyntly with the Proveditor Barbaro Baâ—oer the Squadron of Maltha with the Ships and Galeasses of Ioseppo Morosini The Right Wing or Horn was commanded by Anthonio Barbers a Captain of the Gulf the left by Pietro Contarini The Turks seeing themselves environed on every side with the Christians and their Passage obstructed began to fight with better courage than before and defended themselves very bravely as sometimes desperate Soldiers do But above all the Galleys of Bey appeared signally stout and for their laudable behaviour and singular valour merited as much the Honour as the Turkish Mustapha the Dishonour of the Day But with a Lion-like Courage and as wise a Conduct did a certain Bassi manifest his generous spirit who was the same that had promised the Grand Seignior to present him with Marcello's head or to forfeit his own in lieu thereof being a Greek Renegado and assuredly he gave none reason to tax him with Remissness on his own behalf yet fail'd in the Atchievment of his well-intended Enterprize for when he was bound to board him the General got assistance and offered to enter the Bassas Galley but was unfortunately killed with a Cannon ball and four Gentlemen that stood next him Zuanni Marcello seeing this held all in silence for fear of discouraging the Christian Armada took the Command upon himself and pursued the Battel hotly after the same Order till he had privately signified the General 's death to Barbaro Badoer Proveditor of the Navy who without loss of time stept over and succeeded him still holding the same Order which the General had designed Lazaro Mocenigo in the mean while busy to obstruct the Passage of the Turks with the Sultan ran her unluckily upon a Sand near the shoar and at last too eager in shooting set the â—hip on fire having a litle before lost his Eie with a splinter The Sultan had aboard her divers Persons of Quality and Voluntiers who maximis ad minimos quitted themselves well and honourably amongst which was Capt. Zorzi Dadick The Sieur Ebert Capt. Lieutenant Gremonville and Bernardino Canal a Reformado Captain whereof the two last were irrecuperably wounded During the Fight was the Dutch Ship called 't Wapen van Nassauw under the Command of Capt. Faustino Riva blown up with her own Powder as also another Dutch Ship called Den David en Goliath by an unfortunate shot in her Powder Chamber when she was ingaged with the Galleys of the Bey and lay so close to the said Galleys that 5 of them were blown up with her Aboard the same Ship were 44 Hollanders and 22 left being just the half lost The Prince of Parma was so forward that his Companions were fain to restrain him by force running himself oftentimes into a needless jeopardy of his Person Remarkable was that of the General Borri being aboard the Galeass of Marco Riva who having his young Son by him carried him up and down to see what was worthy of note When the Night came on they unanimously left off on both sides and all was still but the next Morning by break of day they fell on amain and seem'd for some hours to be equally match'd as that the Day was thought dubious but at last the Turks were fain to give over only the Capitana held out very manfully till the Admiral Marco Bembo came to close up with his Lar-board where he saluted him so with Broad-sides that he was forc'd to yield as well as the rest The Venetians seeing the Capitana yield gave a great shout that the Castle and Banks rang again and so well encouraged they were that they fell furiously in one entire Body upon the Saracens that they forthwith betook themselves to flight and retired to the Fort but the Christians had so hindred their passage that few of them got clear The Sieur Barbaro Badoer who succeeded the General concealed his death so long untill that the Fight was over and he able for to give the Fleet an account of the Enemies Overthrow which was in the second Evening pretty late The Venetians having now made themselves Masters of so many Ships and Galleys were at a loss for Men enough to manage them that they were fain to set the most part on fire reserving only such as were left disabled as a token of this notable Victory which had cost the Common-wealth above 400 Souls and amongst those their most faithfull and valiant General Marcello whose unhappy Death can never be enough lamented The number of those that were wounded was great but uncertain The Sultan and the 2 Dutch men of War which as we have already said were unfortunately destroyed with their own powder was all their loss of Shipping They took 18 Galleys and the Maltheezes 11 Ships besides 54 Ships that were burn'd so that of 97 Galeasses Ships and Galleys only 14 were saved on the Enemies side By this laudable Enterprise and Victory of the Venetians above 5000 Christian Slaves were restored to Freedom But how many of the Infidels lost their lives was uncertain only by a rude conjecture and a modest Calculation were computed between â— and 6000 Men. When we went to ruminate for Spoil among their Dead we found the Fretum or Mouth of the Dardanelli floating so thick with Bodies that we could not force our Boat through but with our Oars and Boat-hook were fain to drag and draw them behind the Shallop which again with the force of the stream were thrown on heaps one above another like Shoals of Ice and so came tumbling into the Boat in spite of all the means we could use CHAP. VI. The Siege of Tenedos The two Castles surrendred A description of Tenedos Lemnos it 's Situation and taking in The present state of Greece J. Struys's arrival at Pathmos and Samos Taken by the Turks with 6 of his Companions and soon after ransom'd The said Articles were mutually counter-changed and ratified by the Heads of both Parties and all the Turks and Moors drawn out even the Greeks too who were suffered to stay upon the Island but not within the Castle The Heads of the
other Castle seeing the Venetians in possession of this put out the White Flag and desired Articles of Peace which after a short Treatie of Commissioners on both sides were signed existing mostly of the same Tenure with the former Tenedos lies near the coast of Anatolia and is called Bouchadde by the Turks It is of a fertile Soil and produces plenty of Fruit but especially Grapes and has good store of Melons and other delicacies which they have also in the Winter-season And according to it's small extent not exceeding 28 English miles in circuit has abundance of Cattel It is beset with Hills towards the Sea on every side but within arable and fit for tillage The General committed it to the Trust of Seignior Loredano a Gentleman of Venice with a Garrison of 700 Italians and others Tenedos being now in possession of the Venetians we set Sail for Scalimene or Lemnos which we found about 6 Leagues distant from the other being Seated directly before the mouth of the Channel and therefore a Place in which the Turks had reposed great Confidence This Island has severall small Towns upon it as Condea Cochino Palso Castro and others beside 75 Villages and Hamlets When we came before the Place in order to lay Siege to it we found a Fort having 700 men in Garrison but the Sou-bassa hearing that Tenedos was already taken in by the Christian Armade and finding himself incapable to defend the Place by reason that all communication was cut off he desired to treat by Deputies and without ever a shot surrendred the Fort and Island upon dishonourable Conditions Lemnos or Scalimene as it is now called has Thracia on the North and the Hill Athon towards the West and as we have said lies not far from Lemnos It is no whit inferior to any Island in the Aegean-Sea for a wholsom Air and a good Soil it affoards all kind of Grain and Puls as also Almonds Oil Lactuaries and plenty of Sheep which for their Wool is no small profit to the Inhabitants and from hence comes that excellent and usefull Earth called Terra Lemnia or Terra Sigillata which is so highly prized by those that profess Physic The Inhabitants and Peasantry are Greeks which may not live in any fortified Place In this Island has been a famous Labrynth whereof the Ruins yet appear in some places The chief City thereof is called also Scalimene and is indifferent strong When the General left the Island he constituted a Governour and sent some Ships to cruse through the Archipelago and urge the payment of the Arrearages in the Tributary Places of which the Venetians were now Masters and light also upon such as were free for so unhappy are the Islands of Greece that they must pay Tribute both to the Turks and Venetians which is a great oppression to so poor a People Greece is at this day as fertile as ever but is greatly deficient of it's former Power and Wealth by the Dominion of the Turks and perpetual Wars As for the People they are very urban and good â— converse with The Customary Habit of the Merchants and Citizeâ— is as follows They wear on their Heads a long red Cap with a fold hanging down before and affect long hair although some I have seen shorn and with a Turbant like Mahometans Their Breeches long and narrow demitted to the calf of the leg and litle red boots above their stockings Above all a Coat like the Persians but without a Girdle In stead of a Cloak they wear a Coat with long narrow sleevs hanging down to the middle of the Thighs which they seldome or never put their arms into The Peasants also wear long red Caps as the Merchants and Citizens but wide linen or Cotton Breeches like Trouzers Their Gentlewomen wear a white Silk or Cotton Sharf about their Head hanging over their back and shoulders like Nuns Their Stockings are mostly scarlet and neatly embroyded their shoes with litle handsom heels and sometimes for their more easy going with slaps Those that are of ability wear a kind of Boddice or wast-coat of cloth of Gold and above that an upper-Coat with long Silk sleeves this is girded about the middle with Ribbons Some there are also which wear a short silk Jacket or Justicore coming down to the calf of the legs their shifts hanging down 2 palms below that Being now as we already told you sent to collect Tribute the first Island we came at was Pathmos the place where the H. Apostle Iohn and the beloved Disciple of our Lord was confined or banished to and where he wrote his Revelations When we went shoar they show'd us a litle Chappel in the cleft of a Rock which as the Greeks ascertain'd to us was the very place where he saw those Heavenly Visions as also a stone which lay above his Bed This â—tone the Greeks sell and make great profit of it being stampt into powder is reputed the best Remedy that ever was known for a Quartan Ague The City Pathmos is founded upon a Hill about the middle of the Island and has within it a very fair Monastery with the Tomb of Chrysolodos the Founder thereof The Island is both Fruitful populous and well built on the Sea-side is a litle strong Sconce to defend the place against Pyracy but when they heard of the Overâ—row of the Turks did not in the lest oppose themselves against us â—ing overaw'd by the Cadis When we had dispatched at Pathmos we steer'd away for Samos which is an Island right over against the Gulf of Smirna to see if we could meet with any Saiks or other Turkish Shipping and according â— our expectation met with two rich Prizes laden with raw Silk and other precious Commodities After we had Sail'd to and again for 5 or 6 days we came to Samos to demand the Contributions as at other places When we were arrived in this Road our Commander â—hought good to supply us with Water and other necessaries upon which I and 19 other of our Ships-folk were sent ashoar Ten of our Company were sent up to the Village to buy Provision and Refreshments and the rest amongst whom I my self was one were to take in Water and manage the Boat But hardly had we taken in two Boat-fulls but we saw a Brigandine making toward us stow'd full of Men whereupon we concluded it was no time to dally and therefore threw our Things aboard and betook our selvs to rowing as hard as we could drive towards the Ship But the Turks having far more hands than we and consequently swifter at rowing came in between us and the Ship which lay half a Dutch League from Land We then seeing litle hopes of getting aboard wheel'd about and made towards Land but were as hotly pursued by the Turks and seeing the Brigantine within pistol-shot of us astern we jump'd over board and betook our selves to running But when
sail further up and by the way put in at Milo Which lies in 37 degr and 21 min. It is in length about 7 Leagues tending North and South Amongst the many convenient Havens it hath there is one on the Western coast where Ships may ride in the hardest weather that is without either Anchor or Horser The Villages on this Island are very neat and close built and is also fortified with two strong Holds which command the Sea on each side the Island The Inhabitants are some of the Greek church but speak most Italian for that it is much frequented by the Venetians and other Italians of whom the Women of this Island as they say learn the Language between Sheets which their wanton deportment seems to verify Common fame gives Milo the bell for able Sea-men and Fishers who for both those faculties do the Venetians no small service And here is the prime place for the Armada to Water at where they also generally provide themselves with Bread Oil Salt Wine and Vinegar There is also much Honey found in this Island but wild in the Rocks and Hollow-Trees Thus Traversing to and again to and from the Islands our Ship The Princes grew very leaky so that we were affraid that if we should be taken in a Tempest she would not hold out which our Mate observing willed the Commander to acquaint the Admiral with her Condition which he did and thereupon we were dismiss'd and the Venetians aboard us received order to go aboard other Ships Having taken our leave of the Fleet with a Gun or 2 we speeded us for Venice where not without much difficulty we arrived Here I took my leave of the Ships-folk and went into a Privateer called the St. Iohn which was first intended for Legorn but by the way understanding that our Captain whose name was Herman Been had 3 Commissions and went for a General Caper I took my leave of the Gentleman so soon as we arrived at Leghorn the more because he had already made a beginning and converted the Goods intrusted him by some Merchants into a Prize and Booty thought it therefore best to leave him betimes lest I should be brought with him to pay the shot The Captain seeing that others with me were resolved to leave the Friggat and so consequently he in danger of being betray'd and to be called to an account for his Villany begins to set sail but by an Order from the Duke the Ship was arrested at the instance of Captain W. van der Saar and Capt. de Wilde who then lay at anchor in that Haven The Ship was brought up and chain'd the Ships-folk set free and the Captain himself committed to Custody where for some time hâ— remained till afterward coming for Holland was taken Prisoner but what became of his Friggat I could never come to hear After I had been at Leghorn 2 or 3 days I hired my self aboard Mr Peter Veldmuys with whom after many perillous adventures I returned home to my native Countrey THE THIRD VOYAGE of JOHN STRUYS CHAP. I. The Author undertakes his Third Voyage for Moscovia The Names of the Officers and others employed with him on that Journey and Voyage Their Difficulties in going out Arrival at Riga with a Description of the Town and their Departure from thence The Nature of the Lifelanders their Houses Customes Condition Religion and quaint form of an Oath Arrival at Wolmar with a Description thereof Their difficult Travels through Lifeland THus by Divine Preservation I arrived in my own Countrey after the exposal of my Body to so many Jeopardies and Perils and now began to weigh the great Felicity of a settled life and the many Dangers which attend such a manner of Living as I had unadvisedly made choice of to the great discontent of my Friends and Alliance I therefore purposed with a new Resolution to follow my honest Vocation at home and enjoy that Tranquility of Body and Mind which I then preferred in my Thoughts beyond a restless and disquiet Wandring abroad Pursuant to this my Intention I married after I had been about 6 Moneths at home and so continued in that state for the term of 10 years during which time I found but poor advancement in my Fortune and mean Products of so many years hard labour and toil so that I resolved to take the very first opportunity I met with to see what was reserved for me in the Cabinet of Chance abroad and In the year 1668 I came to understand that some Gentlemen were sent from the Czar of Moscovy to Amsterdam to take on men into the service of the Emperour for equipping some Ships in the Caspian Sea and so to promote the Trade between Moscovia and Persia by Shipping of his own which otherwise till then was done by Persians Tartars and other Nations and that mostly by Land from whence arose many Difficulties by Robberies and the like The Conditions upon which they were taken on liked me very well upon which I applied my self to Mr. David Butler who was to be our Leader and to conduct us to Moscovia After I had treated with him a litle upon what Terms I did desire to go we made an Agreement for 75 gilders per Moneth for which I was to serve as Sail-maker and to make up all the Sail-work for a new Ship and a Yacht which was newly built in Russia The Fore-mast Men had 50 gilders per Moneth allow'd them their Boardwages included which was 15 gilders The Names of those that went were David Butler of Amsterdam Captain Lambert Helt Master William Klopper First-Mate and Carpenter Iohn Alberts Second-Mate Peter Bartelsz Boatswain Cornelius de Vries Gunner Theodore Petersz Carpenters Mate William Williamsz Block-maker Anthony Munster Diamond-cutter Schack Chirurgeon Wiggert Poppes Meyndert Meyndertsz Cornelius Brack Els Petersz Iacob Trappen Iacob Tolk Peter Arentsz and Iohn Fassely Servant to Captain Butter The Master together with the Carpenter Carpenters Mate Anthony Munster Iacob Trappen and Tolk had been the year before in Moscovia Having furnished our selves with Provision and things necessary for the Journey we imbarqued our selves in the Ship Abrahams Offerhande which then lay at Amsterdam and was bound for Riga being 15 in company On the 2 of September 1668 we sail'd through the Pampuys and on the 3 towards the Evening came before Enchuysen where we put in and Shipped 50 Tun of Herring On the 4 we set sail again and got the Texel where we tarried 8 days for a good Wind and on the 13 the Wind blowing fair all the Ships outward bound which were about 50 sail began to weigh and we respectivly to take our leave of Wives and Family for 5 years but before we got clear of the Land the Wind turned so that we were fain to traverse and wind all we could to get out in the mean time came a Ship belonging to Ter Schelling with a full drift against us and
ran her Bow-spreet through our main Sail which was with such force that he rent our sail and broke his Spreet-sail yard insomuch that we were both fain to put into Ter Schelling to repair and fit our selves out again On the 20 being clear we set sail the second time and had a fresh gale at South and by West which held favourably so long till we arrived at Riga but when we entred the Baltic Sea it blew so hard that our Mizzen sail was all rent and unfit for use whereupon the Master set me to work to repair the defects On the 1 st of October we got the Boldera which is the Haven or River of Riga where we dropt Anchor Immediately upon our arrival came the Searchers to visit the Ship and amongst other Goods found a Parcel of contra-band Wares and took it ashoar with them but the Master told them that it was thrown in by chance and pray'd them to be so kind as to leave it aboard which after he had daubed them a litle in the fist they did The next day being under sail we were becalm'd and fain to cast anchor half way up the River On the 3 ditto we came up to the Kay of Riga where being arrived the Master refused to pay me the moneys he agreed with me for to make up his sail which was 10 Rix-dollars but on the contrary gave me very ill Language and told me if I had any pretence upon him the Law was open and Judges appointed for the decision of such controversies This great ingratitude made me to take a course I never intended which was to send him summons to appear in the Town hall where upon a second citation he made his appearence and was condemned to pay the money in presence of the Court. Riga is an eminent Emporium lying within the Prinsdom of Lithvania and seated in a Champain land on the north-east side of the great River Duna It is fortified with Walls Bulwarks and Ditches or Motes populous and full of Trade being as it were the Magazin to supply the whole Countrey above with all kinds of Wares and Commodities and is also a great Thorow-fare By Winter they receive Goods over Land in Sledges and Waggons from Moscovia which is transmitted abroad and by Summer from England Germany Holland and other Places by Shipping which are sent that way again with the Moscovian Waggons and Sledges The Countrey about Riga affoards good plenty of all kinds of Provision as Kine Sheep Goats besides 3 sorts of Deer the Sea and Rivers affoard good store of Fish and the Boors besides their diligence in breeding up of Cattel supply other Countreys with Corn of all sorts and Lactuaries so that it is cheap living at or near Riga This City was formerly within the Jurisdiction of the Kings of Poland but was taken in by Gustavus Adolphus King of Sweden upon the 16 of September 1621 after a long and hard Siege and is at this day in subjection to that Crown On the 10 ditto we left Riga and with our compleat Company and Baggage imployed 30 Waggons to bring us to Pletsko and took up our first nights Lodging at Niew-meulen being a Village where all the Waggons and Horses are set over a River with great Logs of Timber fastned together that float above the Water On the 11 we proceeded again on our Journey and broke two of our Waggon-wheels which the Waggoners repaired and so we proceeded on our Journey At night we came into an Inn which was so meanly provided for Bedding that we were fain to lay all night in the Waggons The next day we travelled through a great Wood in the middest whereof was a broad Marsh that cost us some Hours to go over When we were through the Wood we passed through several little Villages the Inhabitants whereof were a miserable silly People hardly able to draw one leg after the other The Women have only an old Rag like a Plad thrown about their bodies hardly sufficient to hide their nakedness except a litle below their ears to let the World know they have hair as well as other People so that they look like so many Gypsies newly come from the famous Peak of Darby As for their Houses they are but one degree beneath a Hog-sty and those as full of Utensils as a Knave is full of Honesty All that ever I could see was an earthen Pan or two and those so clean that I had rather fast a week than eat any thing that has come out of them Great plenty of Cattel they have and such as have three times as many feet as they themselves As for Beds they have none but such as their Oxen ly upon for when they have stuffed their Gutts they ly down upon the floor one after another as the Nap takes them Their Diet is suitable to all things else they have for although they might have Venison for knocking on the Head the Creature may live till Dooms-day before they will take the pains to lift a hand to kill it unless it be a louse which sometimes they crush to death for change of Diet. As for their Bread it is not much unlike our New-castle Coal for colour but how it is of Tast I know no more than the Man in the Moon for neither my Appetite nor Curiosity could move me to it Cabbage they have in great abundance which is of a Tast like Sorrel but close and white like ours That and Cucumbers are the main ingredients whereof these People seem to be compounded but more especially the latter for Cucumber attends them from the Womb to the Tomb being held in perpetual Slavery by their Lords They are conformable to no Laws unless what they are forced to observe by a strict aw which their Lords impose upon them and injoyn them to They are by nature obtuse and dull inclined to Necromancy and Sorcery but in the performance of an Exorcism so palpably ridiculous that I wonder how they have obtained that repute they have in the World among those who ought to be wiser than to beleeve such groundless Fictions They have no manner of Schools wherein to educate their Children that ever I could see or hear of neither Churches or other Houses for Religious use so that they are brought up in the greatest Blindness and obscurity that may be Some of them 't is true will needs be called Christians but those are they that have travelled as far as Riga which they think is the Head of the World yet are those so stupid as a Lifeland Gentleman told me that they have learn'd Catechism enough if they can but know the Church from a Dwelling house or to pull of their Caps when they see a man with a shoulder knot pass by Yet they are flexible enough to Idolatry by Nature and withall superstitious In our going through the Woods we saw a great Troop of them busy about Conjuring
his own considerations how that his Countrey in all probability would in case he continued refractory be overrun and he himself with all his Race be secluded from the Monarchy The Tartarians had 2 Generals Brethren and equall in command whereof the elder called Mendligeritz erected a Statue in Moscou to which he obliged and injoyned the Moscovians to pay certain Homages The younger called Sapgeri marched on for Casan where he had his Residence thinking that because it had formerly been a Soveraignty and that the Footssteps and Reliques of a wasted Kingdom were still apparent he might the better erect and rear a new Monarchy upon the Foundations of an old Mendligeritz the elder marched with his Army towards Rhesan well knowing that the great Power of that Province might check him upon opportunity So soon as he was set down before the Town he signified the occasion of his coming sent the Governour a Copy of the Articles signed by the Czar demands the Town and willed him to surrender But the Governour who was a Gentleman both of known Fame and Worth in regard of his rare Conduct in several Battails at the Head of an Army let him know That all the Infidels and Barbarians in the world should not deterr him so far as to transgress his Duty and Oath since he himself had no such Intelligence from his Lord the Great Duke and till he had Assurance of what the Tartarian General had advised him about concerning such Articles he would defend the Town and Cittadel The General upon this Answer sent him the Original of the prementioned Articles and so willed him to avoid Blood-shed but the Governour detained the Messengers and kept the Schaedule resolving to stand out the Siege Upon this the Tartars raised the Siege and attempted to storm the City but those within couragiously defended themselves and plai'd of their Canon together with an incessant shooting of Arrows at the Enemy that they were forced to retreat and remove the Siege to another side of the Town where some disloyal Russians had acquainted them that the place was weakest and consequently the most easy to be storm'd however finding no hopes of gaining the Town the Tartarian General sent a Herauld to urge the Governour to resign the Papers declaring himself thereupon willing to draw off his Forces which the Governour refusing the General left the Town Several Narratives were sent off to Moscou which occasioned a general Joy and incouraged the Townsmen to revolt and unanimously fall upon the Garrison who being incapable to make resistance were fain to submit and beg Quarter The Statue of Mendligeritz was also pulled down and broke to pieces in detestation of his Tyranny The Czaar immediately upon these news gathered all the Forces he could which when drawn to field amounted to 25000 Men and marched forward to Casan where he gave the Tartarians Battail and after a hot fight gain'd the Camp the Enemy retiring into the Western Provinces of Tartary shortly after the Czar died without the performance of any honorable atchievment save that during the time of his Reign But Ivan Basilowitz son to the deceased Emperour seeing the good footsteps of his Father and perceiving a sure foundation Levies a new Army and recruits the Old with well experienc'd Germans but having no trusty Person to whom he durst commit the new Army as Commander in chief he joyns the Forces himself leading marches so in the Head to Casan which City when he had besieged 8 weeks and lost many men fearing likewise that Mendligeritz might come to assist them he gave them Offers of Peace which nevertheless the Tartars would not accept expecting succour from the Field-Army Ivan Basilowitz thought it high time either to take up the Siege or to storm it on a sudden which last he resolved upon and accordingly set 70 German Pioneers at work who did the work so effectually and without discovery of the Enemy within that they had under-mined the Northeast Gate in the space of 24 Hours or less and thereupon blew it up which done the Moscovians surprized them within and made themselves Masters both of the Town and Cittadel The Townsmen obtained Quarter althoug the Great Duke had threatned the Contrary for that they had twice rebelled against the Imperial Crown and of their own accord sent succour to the Enemy when it was not in the lest urged from them The Czar being now Master of Casan fortified it with a strong Wall Towers and Bulwarks But now to our present Journal After the Deputy of Casan had throughly visited our Ship and well entertained by our Officers aboard he departed with the Metropolitan ashoar and entreated us all to come up to Casan which we did and received a reciprocal kindness from him there When we returned aboard the Mobile followed us with Music and Dancing a good part of the way On the 10 th we received a good Quantity of Lead aboard which we were to unload at Astrachan On the 13 th I got permission of the Officers to go up to Casan to buy some Biscake for my own use which I had for a mean price and having much more than I could use I sold it and got a considerable profit as well of the Officers as the Foremast men for we were to take care for our own Victualling CHAP. XI Departure from Casan The strange manner of taking Fish Cities demolished by Tamerlan The Ship run fast aground The Salt-Pans and manner of making Salt Difficult Sailing in the Wolga A New City built for defence against Robbers and Pyrates The great abundance of Liquirice about Astrachan The Land of the Calmuc-Tartars ON the 17 ditto leaving Casan we set Sail and that morning were aground 2 several times but without much difficulty got clear again On the 18 we came close to an Island called Staritzo where we anchored our Pilot went ashoar to view the said Island and coming about 3 furlongs within land found stones of the shape and bigness of Lemmons which being broken had within the similitude of a star but those not all alike in Colour for some were like Gold others like Silver and others of a Yellow and Tawny colour This Island is situated in 45 degr 31 min. being of it self about 3 Dutch Leagues in length and 2 broad On the 19 we got the Island Potenski where we came to anchor expecting that a great storm would come on Upon the 22 we sailed past the Buytma which is a branch of the famous River Lanca being about 12 Dutch Leagues from Casan This same River has it's Rise or Fountain about Chambretoky which lies to the North-east of Casan Here we met with a company of Fishermen of whom we bought some Bream which they take in great Abundance and after an od way which if time had permitted us we would have learned On the 23 we came to a very pleasant Coast where we went to ashoar and found there the Ruins of a great City
Valley where we were espied by a Company of Troopers being about 15 or 16. These made up towards us and drove harder and harder till coming near at hand we began to consult about the point of Safety yet could not come to an unanimous Resolution till it was too late some were for Defence others for yielding which Advice was thought best and approved on by the major part for that we thought if the kind Heavens had given us the Field for that time yet we were sure that some must loose their lives and that they might in the mean time be seconded by another fresh Party who when all was done would take the remainder and use us the more unkindly for our obstinacy We therefore upon their approachment freely surrendred our selves into their hands and implored their Mercy after the best manner and with all the signs we could When they had got us into their Power they drove us into the Jurisdiction of the Scemkals for we were then within the Confines of the Osmin When they had brought us within their own limits they allighted from their horses and plundered us yet not with that rigorous usage we feared for having stript us of our upper Garment they let us go taking only what we had with us that was thought to be of any value They took from me a Parcel of rich Silk which I had bought of the Rebells at Astrachan but my gold Chain which I had fastened in the inside of my Garter they did not find When they had thus pillaged us they directed us which way to go for our Safety Dagestan is a Countrey subject to divers Princes and Lords who are independently Sovereign but the most principal Provinces are Scemkal and Osmin already mentioned and of those two the former is the more eminent the Government whereof is not hereditary but by lot which is after this manner The High Priest first appoints a day of Election to which several of the Princes or Myrses as they term them are assembled these being set all in order round about him he throws up a litle Apple but whether of Gold or Gilded I cannot be positiv upon this they all grabble to catch it and he that getts it is chosen for their Prince altho he can favour any he has a mind to by casting it that way Which may also serv for an Embleme to represent Elections in other places where Policy seems to be more refined By that time we had travelled an hour we were aware of another Troop of Horse greater than the former who fell suddenly upon us stripped us to the shirts and ravished the wife of my Countrey-man Brak before our Eies and left her naked My shirt and Drawers which were left me I gave to the Woman on whom I had more compassion than on my self Upon this deplorable accident we took our leaves of each other and departed being naked and unfit to assist each other any more going two or three in a company together Els Pieterson and Mr. Tolk chused to go with me and by that time we had travailled 2 or 3 hours further we were set upon by another Company of Horse belonging to the Osmin These took us tied our hands behind our back made us fast to their Horses Tails and so to trot after them through Thistles and Thorns backwards so that the Horse men driving on apace sometimes dragged us forward for it was not possible that we should keep pace with them After they had brought us a good way they untied me and binding me fast to a Tree shot me with their Arrows which they had broken off and made stumped on purpose to urge me to discover the rest of our Company But when they could not move me to detect them they continued shooting that I often wished that they would have dispatched me and rid me of that misery The marks and pits remain still in my Body as I have shown them to many hundreds since my arrival at home These Torments I endured with incredible patience not willing to detect my Countreymen Torments I say that none without experience could be able to imagine how great When they insisted hard that I should tell them which way they went I told them that they went toward the Hilly Countrey altho I was certain on the contrary for they had determined to go along the River that they might have their shelter in the Woods After they had used us so inhumanly and out of hopes of getting any thing from us they took me and Els Pletersz tied us legg to legg with a small Iron Chain and so brought us up to the Prince Osmin often threatning that they would tear us limb from limb sustaining that Opinion of us that we were of Stephen Radzin's Company and sent out as Emmissaries on his behalf and therefore were resolved that his Insolencies should be lay to our charge When I understood that their Opinion and Intentions were such I was in a great consternation not that I was affraid of Death for that was what I chiefly longed for at that time but that we were liable to such a bad Censure and could not explain our selves so well as to satisfy them to the contrary and besides all that to be kept alive and suffer so many Tortures as they threatned us to detect what we were utterly ignorant of and unable to satisfy them in When we came to the Princes Palace they led us thro the Guards that stood on each side with naked Scimmatars in their hands these we expected to be our Executioners to hew us in pieces altho afterwards we understood it was the manner there when captives are brought before the Prince So soon as my Companion saw this wofull sight he turned his head about and stared upon me with a very frightfull look which I beleeve was the first time and the occasion of a Frenzy which he has been often since possessed with and I beleeve if he be alive continues with him till this day Being come before the Prince we threw our selves down at his feet he thereupon asked us Whence we came and to what end we were come thither We answered Dutch and fled from Astrachan to avoid the Cosacks who upon our departure were about to lay siege to that City and now come to implore your Highnesses gracious Protection All this I hear very well quoth the Prince but I am certain that you are your selves Cosacs and of that Rout which not long ago depopulated my Countrey and made Havoc of my Subjects and now the Villain your Master having taken in Astrachan has sent you as Spies and Explorators to visit my Towns Our reply was Sir we know nothing of the Designs of the Cosacs but served as Marriners in a Ship which some of our Countrey-men have built for the Emperour of Moscovia When the Prince heard that he was some what appeased hearing us with more attention and that we might the
own Coasts to Gilan The Water in these Whirpools is hurried about with an incredible violence and makes such a noise that if the Weather be still they may be heard at 5 or 6 leagues distant It is my opinion that these are the Passages whereby this great Lake has a subterranean communication with the Euxin or som other Sea for it is well known that it receivs 84 huge Rivers besides the Wolga which is reputed the 3 d River of the World for greatness and hither do all the Floods of the Persian and Tartarian Rivers hasten as it were to their Center with an admirable celerity so that when we sailed we always made a calculation how far we would be carried off in thwarting the stream and so bore up towards the Coast as well for shortning our Course as to avoid the Whirpools where if any Vessel be brought she must inevitably perish The best and most commodious Shipping for this Sea is a Flat-bottom from 80 to a hundred Tuns Upon a time it happened that my Master and I fell into a discourse about Trading and Commerce making a paralel between their way of merchandizing and ours where among other Words I told him That If I were once again at Liberty I could make a good Advantage and did not doubt but that in a short time I should return with a Ship full of Hollands Commodities upon which he asked me If I was so rich then I answered No But if I came safe into my own countrey some or other would intrust me with a Cargo for those parts being now well acquainted with the Conveniency of the Caspian Sea My Patron hearing that thought that I might probably be som way instrumental to do him service and that night discoursed som Armenians about me who dealt in Silk upon which they desired to see me My Master having appointed them a day I went along with him where one of the most eminent asked me if I could speak Italian and if I was of Amsterdam or if I knew such a Merchant there I answered him in Italian That I was of Amsterdam but did not know the Gentleman he named yet was acquainted with several there who dealt in Silk He then entred into a discourse which was much after this manner That the only way to Trade with Holland was to bring over Lead Quicksilver Cloth Serges Says and all kinds of Low-Countrey Commodities and Manufactures which would be very marketable at Derbent Scamachy and Ardobil and might produce good profit so that all the Staple of Silk might be brought to Holland and That all Goods whatever might be more conveniently transported over the Caspian Sea and so up the Wolga bringing it down to Archangel and so for Holland which would not prove so tedious by far as to bring it over Land to Smyrna where by the way so much Danger and so many Duties were met withall and then from Smyrna to run the Hazard of the Barbary Corsairs thro the Mediterranean and the Spanish Sea besides unreasonable Duties that are imposed by the Turks which probably the Czar of Moscovia would not set so high to draw a Traffic of such importance thro his Jurisdiction c. That Gilan Scirwan and other adjacent Provinces bordering upon the Caspian Sea could deliver upwards of 50000 Bales of Silk every year Bocharen also affoards pretious Furrs and the East Countrey good plenty of Segrine-Leather Saffron Rhubarb and other precious Druggs This was the sum of all the Discourse we had for that time but not much hopes were then given me of gaining my Freedom by assisting them in a Trade to Europe The Caspian Sea may more properly be termed a Lake were it not that its Greatness and Saltness gave it the name of the latter for it is environed on every side with the Main Continent and receives 85 great Rivers as has been said before which nevertheless do not make it swell any higher upon extraordinary Rains and Tempest which the more confirms what I have already mentioned about the two famous Whirlpools What concerns the Breadth and Greatness of the Caspian Sea as also its ' Scituation Bays Rivers Creeks Islands Towns and their distance of Bearing they are sufficiently noted in the Card hereto annexed which I have with great diligence composed partly by my own experience and partly by the help of some Armenian Marriners who were well acquainted herewith It s length which is reckoned from Wolga to Astrabath North and South is computed to be 129 Leagues and from Tarku to the River Jemla which is accounted the Breadth being East and West is about 60 Leagues For 6 7 8 and 9 Leagues from the Coast the Water is somtime fresh and somtime brakkish and from 12 to 50 fathom Anchor ground but the Sea is within fresh and out of sounding It is also called the Hyrcan and the Salt Sea It has many Boughts Inlets Creeks and Angles the Bay of Gilan tends above 38 Leagues inwards taking its beginning at the Cape of Scabaran and reaches to Sengar Hasam This Sea is environed mostly on the East and North with a sandy and barren ground having also many Quarries of Marble and Alabastre On the East side of this Sea is a Noble River not much inferior to the Wolga which river parts the Calmuc-from the Gwin-Tartars but the Countrey on each side being inhabited with a wild People using among themselvs no kind of Traffic and therefore unsafe for others to adventure themselvs My Master Mahomet Sala once sailing past the mouth of this River I pressed him hard to sail up to view the Conveniency and take an account of the Quality of the Countrey But he told me he had a greater esteem for his Life Ship and Goods than to satisfy my curiosity about a busineâ— of so mean importance This Sea affoards great plenty of all kinds of Fish and is farmed of the King of Persia from April to September for a vast sum of Money and that for a certain Distance from the Coast which is set off with Stakes within which bounds none are to fish upon pain of Death but without every one has the permission to fish yet without Fish is very rare except in some litle Shoals here and there and those only at some Seasons which are uncertain After the Farm is expired it is also free within the Stakes for every one to fish Here is an incredible plenty of Salmon as also Carps Breams Sturgeon and other Fish held with us in great esteem and those in general both larger and fatter than those taken on the Coast of Holland or any other Sea or Water in Europe that I know Carps when come to their full growth are sometimes above 4 foot long but those are not so delicate as when they are less Here also many strange Fishes by us unknown and I beleev most of them proper only to this Sea Amongst those strange kinds is one which by reason of the disproportion of
bought them for the value of 100 Crowns These he kept for Warming Pans and would upon Occasion when he made any Feast cause them to dance nor did they much seem to be concern'd at the loss of those heavy burthens called Maidenheads althô the Art is to know where they first got rid of 'em CHAP. XXII The Hatred and Churlishness of the Ambassadour against the Polish Gentry A Polish Gentleman murthered in his bed The pitiful case and condition of the Polanders who were in the Retinue of the Legate The Ambassadours Greediness He indeavours to turn Mahometan The Authors intention to make his escape Captain Butler and others of his old acquaintance come to Scamachi where they do what they can for the Captivs The Ambassadors Brother goes for Ispahan where he desires to be admitted as a Mahometan but is not received William the Masters Mate of the Ship Eagle comes to Scamachi A great Earth-quake Consecration of Water among the Armenian Christians A great concourse of People and remarkable Ceremonies ON the 2 of November came the Sister of the Ambassador and his Brother with a great Retinue and Pomp their Reception was with an Extravagant Banquet which dured several days So long as this Junketting lasted was such Gluttony Drunkness and Prodigality yea such beastliness shown that I almost abhorred the name of a Christian when on the other side I saw the Mahometans point at them who are themselvs very abstemious and temperate Yet this only was to gratify the Georgians and Persians for he demeaned himself very churlishly towards the Polish Gentry who were sent to grace his Person as a Retinue Scarce were they ever admitted into his presence and besides that pinched in their allowance as well in Diet as Habit and at last having spent the Money they brought with them out of Poland were reduced to such poverty that they went up and down like Beggars being ashamed to com into honest Company for besides their costly Attire which he always kept locked up he would not allow them a sufficiency of Linnen to keep them clean If any offered to complain he threatned to sell them for Slaves which tended to the great detriment of those his Domestics and Dishonour of the King and Crown of Poland This bred in the Polish Gentry such dissaffection that they resolved oftentimes to have revenge but as those who know themselvs conscious of such ill demeanor are ever in fear of their Persons so he who knew himself guilty of such wicked doings had always a certain number of his own Nation to secure and guard him However they once finding opportunity and being already com to the very Catastroph of Patience began to hew him with their Scymiters and Axes as he should go out of his Dining-Room where they chopt and mangled him so that he lay for dead upon the Floor in the Portic having received 17 grievous Wounds and lost three Fingers of his Right hand yet by the great diligence and skill of his Chirurgeon who was then at hand he was restored to his former Health and Sanity This outrage as it could not but ingender bad blood so it rendred the Ambassadour much more despightfull than before and that very night to be revenged sent a Georgian Soldier to Paniegros a Polish Gentleman who was as Assistent in this Ambassage and equally impowered to treat with the Ministers of State at the Persian Court and therefore reckoned by the other as an obstruction in the Promotion of his Interest as well as his being ready to represent the Occasion of these Tumults to the King in such manner as might tend to his disadvantage yet it ought to be understood of this Gentleman that he neither gave incouragement nor knew any thing of that extravagant Action The Georgian having obtained entrance ran to his Bed-side and there most inhumanly murthered him whilst asleep This Paniegros was a Gentleman of a brave conduct and withall of a meek temper having purchased the Love even of those that seemed to be his Lot-enemies for his prudent and civil deportment He had lived for som years together at Amsterdam and spoke very good Nether-dutch The rest of the Polish Nation were taken and secured som whereof were fast in Chains Nor with this did the Ambassador hold up but dayly revenged himself of the Poles which he used as Slaves and the more to over aw them listed several Georgians-Soldiers to guard his Body The Prince of Scamachy now sensible of the Differences and sad disorder of affairs took upon himself the Office of a Mediator and adjousted the matter so well that the imprisoned Parties were set again at liberty yet were no better used than before as to their Sus-and Maintenance whereas one Man might easily eat the Allowance he gave for 8. He on the Contrary continued a Junketting with those of his own Nation that an Ox a day would not have been too much if it were not for varietie and change of Diet. He bought 13 Kine which he sent out into the Field and set me to look after them but finding my self at a loss for Victuals I assumed the liberty to tell his Excellency that he must please to send me somthing to eat in the Field His answer was If you will have any thing steal a cow from the Persians and help your self so But that Commission I took occasion to let alone being sensible that my masters Order would not excuse me Thus I suffered more hunger than in all my life and sore against my will intimated the matter to my former Patron Hadsi Biram who gave me this reply I told you of it before-hand what a villain that Georgian is That he was but a Christian in show and far too base to be a Musulman And certainly the Gentleman had good reason on his side for this Ambassadour well knowing what Beer was brewed for him at the Court in Warsaw dispatches his Brother to the King at Ispahan to supplicate that they might both be circumcised pretending that now knowing better things than he had hitherto don therefore could not have Peace or Rest in Conscience but continual Horror and Inquietude if he were not admitted as a member in Mahometanism But they had such ample and clear Information at Court of his Life and Behaviour that they easily perceiv'd upon what account he did it and consequently declined his Request Shortly after he also received a Mandate from Ispahan to depart immediatly for Poland which was acceptable news for the Polish Gentry hoping at once to be rid of that Slavery and Misery they suffered After my old Patron had discoursed me a litle about this affair took his leav of me saying John I am very sorry for your condition pre'thee therefore com twice a day to my house and eat or at what time you are hungry I shall give my wife order upon my Absence to give you Victuals The sweetest music I must confess I heard in Persia
Schach Sephy prayed and fasted for 40 Days together without Intermission using only a Cup of Water every day Doors covered with Plates of Gold by Schach Abas The Library and Repository of the Vtensils for the Kings Table The Garden or Yard where the Persian Kings lie interred The names of the 12 Kings that lie there buried The Revenues belonging to this Mesar or sepulchre Som fast Revenues Ardebil a famous Mart. UPon the 13 my Patron Hadzi Byram who was a very zealous devout Mahometan went to perform his Devotion at the H. Sepulchre of Zide Tzaybrail in Kelcheran having first well provided himself with Fasting and the Bath I pray'd him also that he would please to take me with him but he positivly refused save of this Answer he gave me John if you will indeed becom a Musulman I am freer you should go than stay behind but it is not lawful to bring a Christian thither to pollute that most Holy spot of Ground O Sir replied I why cannot I wash my self as clean as a Musulman and why should it be thought that I pollute the Place since I leav nothing at all behind me but what I find there All this would not prevail with him but rather seemed to incite him to anger so that being unwilling to purchase his displesure to pamper my self with such an unprofitable curiosity I thought fit for that time to desist But the next morning finding him in a pleasant humor I renewed my request and he assented thô conditionally as First to keep silence all the time since I was not perfect in the Dialect and so might com to be discovered Secondly not to stare any Person fully in the Face and Thirdly to act for Changeling in case any Body came to question me Fools and Madmen being with them reputed Holies for they are of Opinion that all men have an equal understanding and that those who are either Mad or Foolish imploy the rest of their Senses in a Divine and Celestial Contemplation or Converse with Angels The Grave or Tomb stood in the midst of a spacious Court and built round above all was a round Tower which was covered with Blew and Green Stone glazed which made a most gorgeous show It was raized high so that we must ascend 10 steps before we enter Being com to the Threshold my Patron made there certain Prayers that don he gave the Sign that he would be in upon which one of the Hafisans or Waiters came out who demanded of him his Sable and Boots and of me my Truncheon which he shut up in a litle Chamber my Patron then having given him a piece of money in the Hand and so we both went in bare-foot The Floor was all laid with Tapestry the Roof and Walls were painted Blew illustrated here and there with Flowers of Gold which made it look with a great splendor the Glass in the Windows was of divers colours like as in old Christian Churches and I presume don by the same Art which som will needs say is lost On the sides were several litle Chambers and Appartments which alwaies stand open Here sit several Doctors who are to instruct Youth in the Alchoran as also to read and to sing that so they may be fit to serve in that holy Function and administer at the sacred Tomb. Here and there were several Chairs whereon lay som pieces of the Alchoran In the Middle of all stood the said Tomb being about a Mans height raised above ground 6 Foot long and proportionably broad It was of pure Gold and laid in with Flowers and Foliage of Silver which was very artificially don Above the Tomb under a Canopy of Blew Silk hung 4 Lamps 2 of Gold and 2 of Silver which every night are lighted by certain Attendants which they call Tzirachtschikan When my Patron approached to the Grave the Waiters took off the Covering which was of green Velvet upon which after he had mumpled over certain Prayers bowed himself pushed with his head against the Tomb kissed it and so stepping backwards was met at the door by one of the Hafisans who gave him the Benediction and so dismissed him When he was com to the Carawansera concluded this Devotion with a sumptuous and an Epicurean Banquet with Drinking Dancing and Whoring so that it may easily be perceived that the extreme and furthest Hope they have who are the greatest Zelots in Turcism is only for libidinous Enjoyments and to obtain their fill of voluptuous Plesures and sensual Delights in the World to com as by an implicit Faith they are induced to beleeve In Ardebil are many excellent Hot-baths which bring in no small profit to the Owners my Master also made frequent use of the same as well out of a superstitious Zeal as for conservation of Health But about 3 Dutch miles without Ardebil are certain Hot wells proceeding from a sulphurous quality of the Earth These are exceeding hot and may not be touched so that round about are several Baths and Fountains which are tempered with the hot water being convey'd thither in Pipes and Conduits These Baths so tempered are reputed very good against the Itch Biles and other external Grievances and Sores and as som have found usefull against internal Distempers as was advised my Patron by a Doctor at Scamachy to make use of it for a weakness in his joints On the 16 my Master set out to go to these Baths and asked me to go with him bidding me take a Horse so that I was as well mounted as he himself he took with him 3 Slaves with an Ass to carry clean Linnen Meat and Wine with other Refreshments A little before we came at those Wells we smelled a strong smell of Brimstone and heard the Water bubble up and boil We saw also smoke and vapours that rose in many places from the Water which made me very faint The chiefest of those Wells is called Grandausch but this my Master thought not fit for him to use but went to another called Serdebe which nevertheless is reputed the best Water and was therefore roofed over with a stately Arch at the Charges of the Grand Chancelor Tzulpharachan Among the Slaves that my Patron had was an old Greek for whom he had a great kindness and used him more like a Brother than a Servant So soon as he was uncloathed this Greek rubbed his Body with a Towel till he was all over red then he stepped into the Bath where for some time he sat to the neck in Water and then coming out dried himself took a draught of very strong Wine and away again into the Bath which having done 2 or 3 times together he clothed himself and rode away to a Carawansera where the Day before he had bespoke a warm Bed in which he lay him down and stayd over night The next day betimes in the Morning we rode back to Ardebil where he kept his Bed for som days following On the 20 th I
Island is white with the Dung of Mews Cormorants and a sort of Wild-geese that com thither to build and breed as also to prey upon the dead Fish which lies in heaps upon the shore and in the small Inlets and Creeks There is no fresh Water upon the Island which if there had we had bin very unhappy for the English had intended to leav us there with a little Provision till our own Ships should come to fetch us off but seeing there was none they were so kind as to carry us for England The reason of their design to do so was because they had very many sick aboard and grew every day weaker and weaker by the Death of their Men fearing therefore that we should rise and make our selvs Masters of the Ship when we found an Opportunity being about 300 Dutch in all On the 23 of June we left Ascension Island and set our Course N.W. till we came under the Aequinoctial and then North till we came in 13 degr which is the height of the Barbados then steered N. and by E. till we came in 43 degr where we altered our Course N. E. till we found that we were in 48 degr then changed our Point N. E. and by E. till we came at 51 degr 11 min. then steered East till we had 51 degr 20 min. and the next day got sight of Ireland and the day following arrived safe at Baltamore which is a very fair Haven and good Anchor-ground as also a safe Harbor for Shipping against all Winds Being arrived here the Captains gave us liberty to go where we liked so that som of our Men went over Land for Kingsale On the 26 we had news of the Engagement between the English and Dutch The day following I set forward with som of our Company afoot over land passing through many fair Towns as Balthamore Top Ross and others On the 28 we came at the Castle Til Britton where we stay'd all night and the next morning betimes set forward on our Journey and about noon came to Kingsale being one of the most commodious Havens and strongest Place that I had seen in all Ireland The Haven is sufficient to contain a considerable number of Shipping as at our being there were 80 or 100 sail laying at Anchor all Ships of a great Burthen The City it's self is also strongly Wall'd and has an impraegnable Fort. We tarried here 10 days and set forward again for Cork where we happily found a Ship ready to sail for Bristol Cork is a fair City and the Metropolitan of the Province of that name being also a Bishops Seat The Master received us aboard and in the Afternoon set sail and that night came to Anchor before Cow which lies about 5 Leagues from Cork On the 10 betimes in the Morning we weighed and had a brav◠Gale of Wind. About Noon we descried a small Vessel which w◠praesumed was a Dutch Privateer but ours being a good sailer outstrip◠her far The next day we found ourselvs in St. Georges Channel and about the Evening came before Bristol On the 12 I went ashoar and pursued my Journey afoot to London where on the 15 I arrived and stayed 3 Days viewing to my great astonishment the City all rebuilt after a magnificent manner being not long before in Rubbish and Ashes by a dreadfull Fire that happened in the year 1666 but now appearing with a far greater lustre than before From London I travailed to Harwich passing thrô many fair Villages and a most delightfull Countrey And from hence imbarqued for Holland where after many Miseries and Perils by the Goodness of Almighty GOD I embraced my Wife and Children on the 7 of October in the year 1673. Anchora de prora jacitur stat littore puppis THE END The Copy of a NARRATIV Written from aboard the Ship EAGLE belonging to his Imperial Majesty the Czar of Moscovia riding at Anchor before ASTRACHAN upon the River Wolga bearing date September XXIV M DC LXIX O. S. ON the 28 of May we left Moscou and with a small Boat fell down the River Occa till we came at Dedenof being the Wharf where the Ship and Yacht were built which we found ready for a Launch ON the 6 of Iune we set sail with our Ship and Yacht coming the day following before Nisen Novogorod where the River Occa incorporates with the Wolga In the mean while we had run our selvs a ground three or 4 Times but that was more thrô the unskilfullness of the Pilot than the Badness of the River which is deep and navigable as also on each side inhabited and grown with Woods The name of the Gentleman who resided at Nisen as Waywood or Governour was Maxim Ivanowitz Nachokkin who made us very welcom and according to their custom sent us several Dishes of Meat also during the time we lay there at Anchor came several times aboard us and at our departure convoy'd us down som part of the River and supplied the Officers with Necessaries and Refreshments HAVING the advantage both of Wind and stream we arrived the First of July before the mouth of the River Casanka which is about a mile from Casan Here we broke our Cables and with much ado made fast to the shore with a single Rope We had also lost our Bowspriet among the Trees in falling down the Occa. The Waywods name of Casan was Iurien Petrovitz Trobieskay a liberal Gentleman and not at all incomitable he treated us several Times at his own House and upon our Departure gave us som Provision aboard us After 15 days aboad here we loosed and passed by several fair Towns as Camuschinka Dosoroska and others too long to relate This said Camuschinka is lately built by Order of the Czaar being fortified Diamond wise by Collonel Thomas Bailey an English Gentleman It 's end is to prevent the Irruption of the Cosacs the River Camuschinka running into the Don. ON the 13 of August we got sight of Astrachan and on the 14 came before the Town where we gave the Salvo with all our Cannon and 60 Musquets and in the Evening dropped Anchor in the Road near the Town We had before got Intelligence how that the Cosacs had appeared upon the Wolga but coming to Astrachan were further informed how that the Russes were gon out against them in which Expedition were 50 Stroegs and about 3000 Men under the Command of Knees Simeun Ivanowitz Geboof who was the third Voyce or suffrage of Astrachan It is now 3 years since the first rising of the Cosacks in which time they have depopulated many fair Towns upon the Caspian Sea and about a year agon had taken in Iaick a City belonging to the Czar where they had besides many Insolencies committed killed and dispatched abov 8000 Men by cruel and unheard of Torments amongst whom was one Dutch Officier of known fame for his good Conduct IN Persia they had taken in and demolished 3 Citys
and most barbarously massacred the Inhabitants and growing both in number and power were becom very formidable both to the King of Persia and the Great Duke They were headed by one Stenko or Stephen Radzin a discontented Person and one of great Power as to his proper Abilities bearing a Soveraign Aw among them About 14 days before our Arrival at Astrachan he had taken a costly Persian Boes valued at several Tuns of Gold in which were Horses and several other Presents sent from the King of Persia to the Great Duke of Moscovy ON the 17 as the Waywod of Astrachan was aboard our Ship came an Express bringing news that Radzin and the Cosacs had submitted themselvs to the Great Duke upon which the Waywod gave order that we should fire our Guns which we did The said Letters further mentioned how that they had delivered the Horses belonging to the Great Duke to the Russian General ON the 19 came 3 Cosacs into Astrachan in very costly Attire and with great pomp whereof the youngest was the Orator The Waywood after a long Treaty assured them of being established in the Great Dukes Favour But it seemed that they had som disgust because they were not formally introduced as is customary with all Ambassadors and Legates The Waywod excused it saying That he himself was a Bojar and resided there in quality of Waywod yet at his first taking that Dignity upon him was not introducted by his Predecessor nor the Nobility of Astrachan which was Argument and Token that he was not to do the like to others When the Conference was over the Waywod invited them to his House and gave them a splendid Treat ON the 21 early in the Morning came the Russian Fleet before the Town consisting of 53 Stroegs or Rowing-Barks upon each Stroeg was only one Piece of Ordnance but those in the Rere had 2 to wit one before and another abaâ—t Aboard each were so many Strelitzers which are the Soldiery that they could not mov if there had bin occasion to do any execution The said Fleet by order of the Waywod came to Anchor on the other side of the River About 3 in the Afternoon came the Cosacs consisting in 23 Sail and a considerable number of Men. Upon their Arrival we had an order from the Waywod to receiv 200 Strelitzers aboard under our Standard who placed themselvs in order round about the Ship The Russian Army then loosed and came before the City giving the Salvo with all their great Guns at once with abov 3000 Musquets which the Cosacs answered with their Cannons and Musquets upon which they in the City put out a white Flag which was a Token for us to Fire which we did with all our great Guns and about 200 Musquets Mean while the Master of our Ship fell over board but was taken up again thô with much ado for the weather was a little tempestuous Soon after the Russians gave fire a second time and came close up to our Ship upon which we gave fire for the last time with 13 Guns and 200 Musquets The Cosacs rowed off and came to Anchor where the Russian Fleet rode at first ON the 22 in the Morning betimes the Cosacs rowed up the River and were on a sudden out of sight and that morning issued a Proclamation that none should have any Commerce or Converse with them On the 23 came Radzin himself in Person into Astrachan and was saluted by all the Gentry the Waywod was also council'd to bring the Ammunition and Standard of the Rebells into the City which he resolv'd upon Mean while came news to the Waywod that Radzin was drunk whereupon he gave order that they should endeavor by good and gentle words to get him out of Town he being very unruly when overtaken with Liquor in which mood he had destroyed many Men both of his own Rout and others But the Insolencies he had committed during this Uproar cannot be recounted althô 't is said that besides the many Thousands of the Great Dukes Subjects he had caused to be massacred whereof himself boasted to have dispatched 8000 at one time he had from time to time massacred above 40000 Persians The Copy of a NARRATIV Sent from Capt. D. Butler dated at ISPAHAN March 6 th 1671. Worthy Sir AFTER a taedious delay we finally received an Order from the Great Duke to imbark our selvs with the Ships Company and com to Moscou Which being shown us I insisted continually that according to the said Order I might go up but it was thought good that the Ship should be first put in Equippage and supplied with Ammunition and in case of necessity be used against the Cosacks who under the Conduct of one Stenko Radzin as chief had already depopulated many fair Countreys upon the Caspian Sea and then reconciled to the Great Duke But in the Moneth of March came news how that the Cosacs were again revolted upon which Colonel Levonti Bogdonof was dispatched by the Great Duke with a Band of 800 Men to wit 400 Russian Cavalrie and 400 Nagaian Tartars to march to Zarit a a City lying about 80 Dutch Miles above Astrachan that being a City which abutts upon the Frontiers of the Cosacks and commands the passage of the River Don or Tanais which River nevertheless doth not fall into the Wolga as som have bin of opinion and as most Maps do make it for the Cosacks do come almost a days Journey with their Boats from the Don to the Wolga which they ballance with pieces of Timber the better to endure the violence of the stream for they are but of one entire piece or Trunks of Trees hollowed out These people have the Russian Speech and the same Religion They have also their Asyla or Places of Refuge granted them by the Great Duke whither they have recourse when they have perpetrated any villanous Fact or Enormity ABOUT the 27 or 28 of April came a Narrativ by a Courier from the abovesaid Bogdanof importing how that the Cosacks had taken in Tzaritza and that about 1200 Moscovians were kill'd and drown'd but to give a full account of the Stratagems they had used to gain the Town would make me more prolix and taedious than my present design is to be These 1200 Strelitzers or Soldiers were a part of those that were sent from Moscou to enforce the respectiv Garrisons upon the Wolga but especially this City in which the Great Duke reposed great Trust being able to check as I have said before the main Passage of the Rebels in their March for the South-East Countrey THE same day came news how that the Field Tartars were at discord and factious among themselvs and being drawn into 2 Head-parties used all manner of hostile Acts against each other so that Bogdanof thought good to draw up and march forward to Chornojar a City about 50 Dutch Miles from Astrachan He had also sent down a Captiv Cosac to Astrachan who was put upon the