till 1697 By R. K. c. The Doctrine of Acids in the Cure of Diseases farther asserted Being an Answer to some Objections raised against it by Dr. F. Guthill of Dorchester in Dorsetshire in which are contained some things relating to the History of Blood as also an Attempt to prove what Life is and that it is principally supported by an Acid and Sulphur To which is added an exact Account of the Case of Edmund-Turner Esq deceased as also the Case of another Gentleman now living exactâ—y parallel to Mr. Turners By Johâ—â— Colebatch a Member of the College of Physicians London The History of Poland in several Letters to Persons of Quality Giving an Account of the Antient and Present State of that Kingdom Historical Geographical Physical Political and Ecclesiastical viz. It s Origine and Extent With a Description of its Towns and Provinces the succession and remarkable Actions of all its Kings and of the Great Dukes of Lithuania The Election Power and Coronation of the King The Senate or House of Lords The Diet and form of Government The The Priviledges of the Gentry their Religion Learning Language Customs Habits Manners Riches Trade and Millitary Affairs together with the state of Physick and Natural Knowledge as also an Account of the Tutonick Order and of the D. of Curland his Family and Territories with Sculptures a new Map after the best Geographers with several Letters relating to Physick By B. Connor Fellow of the Royal Society c. Books Printed for A. Bosvile at the Dial against St. Dunstan's Church in Fleet-street 1697. THe Memoirs of the Count de Rochefoâ—t containing an Account of what past most memorable under the Ministry of Cardinal Richelieu and Cardinal Mazarin with many particular passages of the Reign of Lewis the present French King never before in Print made English from the French the Second Edition Corrected The Christian Belief Wherein is Asserted and Proved That as their is nothing in the Gospel contrary to Reason yet there are some Doctrines in it above Reason and these being necessarily enjoyn'd us to Believe are properly call'd Mysteries in an Answer to a Book intituled Christianity not Mysterious The Second Edition with a Preface and other Additions A Discourse of Conscience Published chiefly for the Benefit of the Unlearned tho' it may also be useful to others Together with Brief Reflections upon that which the Author of Christianity not mysterious saith upon that known Text 1 Tim. 3 16. The Interpretation of Dreams digested into â—ive Books by that Ancient and Excellent Philosopher Artimedorus The Eleventh Edition much corrected by an old Original Copy with the Life of the Author with many more Additions with the Judgment of some of our Modern English Writers concerning the good use to be made of some Dreams and the Table very much amended Vol. II. CHAP. I. Containing a full Relation of the Revolutions in the Muscovian Empire after the Death of that Great Tyrant John Basilovits to wit Vnder the Reigns of Fedor Ivanovits his Son Boris Goudenou his Son Fedor and the Counterfeit Demetrius JOhn Basilovits had by Anastasia his first Lady two Sons John and Fedor or Theodor the first having been slain by his Father 's own Hands as we told before Fedor Ivanovits was after his eldest Brother's Death the next Heir to the Empire and accordingly Crown'd Grand Czar of Muscovy when he was scarce two and twenty years of Age. He was Married some years before his Father's Death to Irene Sister of Boris Goudenou a Lady of a very lofty Temper and Carriage by whom having no Issue he had been several times commanded by his Father to send her into a Monastery according to the Custom of Muscovy but his Affection and Endearments of this Lady being more prevailing with him than his Interest he had by several Delays put off the Execution of it Being now mounted on the Throne and Boris advanced to the Dignity of Lord High-Steward of Muscovy the highest Station next to the Prince in the Empire he knew how to manage the Affection of a Prince who always had preferr'd his private Pleasures and Retirement before Publick Affairs with so much Dexterity that the Princess in a great measure ow'd the continuance of her Greatness to him as he was absolutely beholding to her for his first Advancement Boris Goudenou was a Man naturally qualified for the Management of Affairs of State and in a very few Years had attained to that degree of Perfection in Flattery and Dissimulation that he seem'd to be the Darling both of his Prince and the People both being equally well satisfied in his Conduct Thus by the Advantages of his Quality and Dexterity and the Weakness of the Czar Fedor having got the whole Management of Affairs into his own Hands he began to bend all his Thoughts how to secure the Crown of Muscovy to himself and his Family the better to enable himself to obtain his Ends after he had gain'd the Affection of the common People he resolved to smooth his way to the Throne by the Favour of the Nobility most of whom having a Dependance from him as the only Person through whose hands all Places of Honour Trust or Profit passed were soon brought over by the Hopes and Advantages of Preferments to his Party Having thus laid the Foundation to his projected Greatness the main Obstacle of his growing Ambition was Demetrius the youngest Son of John Basilovits by a second Adventure and Brother to the Czar Fedor Ivanovits who was Educated under his Mothers care in the Castle of Vgletz His Death being therefore resolved on Prince Demetrius â—â—ur â—ered four of the Prince's own Domesticks were by vast Promises engag'd to undertake the Fact The better to cover their Design they set at mid-night the City of Vgletz on Fire in several places and having thus fill'd all with horror and confusion they ran during the general Consternation to the Castle under pretence of saving the Prince and being admitted into his Bed-chamber took their Opportunity while he was looking out of the Window to see the approaching Flame and stabb'd him in several places with poyson'd Daggers and so leaving him wallowing in his own Blood took Post for Mâ—sco flush'd with hopes of ample Rewards for so extraordinary piece of Service But they were grievously mistaken in their Account for Boris Goudenou considering with himself how dangerous they might prove one time or another to his Affairs took a Resolution to take the first Opportunity of ridding himself of these Evidences of his Treachery to effect which he hir'd others who by the Temptations of great Rewards were made the Executioners of those four Murderers of their Prince To prevent the Murmurs of the People who were all startled at the suddenness of so bloody a Tragedy he made use of the same Method he had done at Vgletz For having caused the City of Musco to be set on fire in several Parts he did not question but that
Chinese Wall As the accession of these forreign Nations has been of great advantage to the encrease of Trade and the Wealth of the Russian Empire so it has contributed not a little to the peopling of the Country which by reason of their intestine Commotions in our age and frequent Inroads made by the Crim Tartars was laid in a great many parts in a manner desolate This is most conspicuous in the fertile Plains on both sides of the River Steca down to the Wolga almost as far as Cesau which not many Years ago were in a manner dispeopled but now are stock'd with an infinite number of Towns and Villages and the City of Musco it self hath in a few Years so well recovered its pass'd disasters that it is incomparable more Beautiful than ever it was before and is reckoned to contain at present no less than betwixt Six and Seven Hundred Thousand Inhabitants of several Nations As the prodigious encrease of the Capital City must chiefly be attributed to the great concoâ—â—â—â— of the various Trading Nations we have mentionen so the peopling of the Country is to be ascribed to the prudence of the Czar Alexis Michaelouits the present Czar's Father who finding his Territories exhausted of men in his War with the Poles carried away a number of Captives out of â—â—â—â—thuania and the other Polish Provinces bordering on Muscovy as were sufficient to plant several Colonies all along the Rivers Gecca and Wolga who having been encouraged by several priviledges granted to them have repeopled that Country in such manner as it appears at present But Strength of the Muscovites in respect of their Neighbours since we have sufficiently spoke concerning the Strength of the Muscovites by the encrease 〈◊〉 their Wealth and Trade we must also before 〈◊〉 conclude say something of their present Condition in reference to their Neighbours The Persians Poles Swedes the Crim Tartars and Turks As to what relates to the Muscovites in respect of the Persians The Persians there is no great probability that these two Neighbours should have any occasion to try their mutual strength since they are so separated from one another by the Caspian Sea the Dagesthan and Carcassian Tartars and the vast desarts betwixt these and Astrachan and that the common benefit they receive by their Trade in the Caspian Sea engages them equally to keep a good understanding betwixt them especially since upon occasion they may be very serviceable to one another against the Turks The Tartars bordering the North East upon Siberia The Tartars and some other Provinces under the Czar of Muscovy's jurisdiction tho' they formerly especially the Calmuc Tartars used to be verry troublesome to some of the Tartarian Provinces depending upon the Russian Empire nevertheless since the Muscovites have guarded the Frontiers on that side with good Fortifications and Garrisons and have made these Vagabonds sensible of the advantage of their Fire Arms they are not so forward in maâ—ing their irruptions Their only way they make 〈◊〉 of now is to appear sometimes in great Numbers on the Frontiers and to send their Deputies into Muscovy by which means they get considerable Presents from the Czar who thinks it more Prudence to purchase the Friendship of a Vagabond â—â—ople who have nothing to loose than to put himself to the expence of sending an Army against 〈…〉 lieu of which they assist the Czar in his Wars with a considerable Number of Horse and are very serviceable to the Muscovite in furthering their Passage and Traffick into China But the Turks and Crim Tartars The Turks and Crim Tartars used to be the most Mischievous Neighbours to Muscovy T is true the Turks do not immediately border upon Muscovy 〈◊〉 the Country Inhabited by the Budziack and 〈◊〉 Tartars who tho' at a great distance to the South from the City of Musco as they are the Grand Seigniors Vassals so he makes use of them like his hunting Dogs to overcome the Southern part of Muscovy to the very Gates of its Capital City Czar Michael Frederovits endeavoured to prevent their Incursions by causing the Woods to be cut down in some places and by reason of a Line strengthened with a Moat of about Five Hundred Miles in Length but they did not rest till they had pull'd down the first and fill'd up the last and by their frequent Incursions had almost rendred that part of Muscovy quite desolate For which reason the Muscovites were always obliged to keep a considerable Body of Horse on the Frontiers and sometimes to give them a diversion by the help of the Donepsian Cosacks and the Nogajan Tartars But the case is much alter'd as to this particular of late Years For since the Muscovites by vertue of a Peace concluded with the Poles at Oliva are become Masters of Kiovia this serves them in a great measure at once to Bridle the insolency of these Robbers and for a Bulwark against the Turks â—â—pecially if they prevent the last from getting first footing in Vkraina But the taking of Asoph 〈◊〉 the further progress of the present Czar 〈◊〉 the Crim Tartars gives a fair prospect to the Muscovites not only of securing themselves for the â—â—ture against their attempts but also of reducâ—â—â— them under their obedience and by taking the 〈◊〉 of Precop to enter the limits of their Empire 〈◊〉 the Borders of the Black Sea The Poles are certainly the most redoubtable â—nemies the Muscovites have The Poles their Scituation 〈◊〉 such as to encourage them to Act against the Muscovites when ever they meet with a favourable opportunity Of which they have given Sufficieâ—â— Proofs during their intestine Commotions 〈…〉 when they were just upon the point of having made it a Province of the Crown of 〈◊〉 if by their own divisions they had not given 〈◊〉 Muscovites leisure to recover themselves But 〈◊〉 they seem to have sufficiently secured their â—â—â—â—tiers against the Insult of the Poles by then 〈◊〉 Masters of Surleasko Severia and Kiâ—â—iâ— and 〈◊〉 the Poles are reckoned much the better Soldâ—â—â—â— the Field by reason of their great number of 〈◊〉 yet the accession of the Zaparogian Cosacks 〈◊〉 a little Strengthned the Muscovian Forces and 〈◊〉 in some measure be look'd as a sufficient Ballance to the Advantage of the Polish Horse 〈◊〉 since the Muscovites now are capable to outâ—â— the Poles if not in goodness at least in the number oâ— their Horse The Muscovites had formerly great Contests 〈◊〉 the Swedes The Swedes about Livonia which occasion'd several Bloody Wars but since the causes of these differences are removed by the Peace of Oliva when the first resign'd all their pretensions to this Country the Muscovites need not fear any thing from that Side where it Border'd on Sweden since more Conquests in far distant Country would prove more hurtful than profitable to Sweden And the Muscovites have no great encouragement to Atâ—â—ck the Swedes on that Side where they have for 〈◊〉 most part succeeded so ill in their Attempts â—â—sides that it is to be feared that if the Poles â—â—ho's interest it is not to let Livonia fall into â—â—eirs hands should joyn with the Swedes against 〈◊〉 they would put them very hard to it and 〈◊〉 the Muscovite Army's appear now very numeâ—â—us in the Field yet would they scarce be able â—â—â—graple with two such Potent Enemies who 's 〈◊〉 by the Conjunction and Advantage of the 〈◊〉 Horse with the well Dissiplin'd Infantry of 〈◊〉 Swedes would perhaps prove invincible to them 〈◊〉 But to come to a Conclusion Whether we conâ—â—der the vast extent fertility and variety of proâ—â—cts of the Russian Empire whether its strength 〈◊〉 regard of its vast Revenues its Advantageous â—â—â—tuation in respect of of its Neighbours being â—â—â—ounded on the North and East with a vast Sea 〈◊〉 a great Wilderness or in regard of its great â—â—mber of Forces it is able to maintain or 〈◊〉 in respect of the vast encrease of its Trafick 〈◊〉 Persian Indian Chinese Trade especially if â—proved by the Advantages his present Czarish â—â—jesty has had over the Crim Tartars it will sufficiently appear out of what has been said in this 〈◊〉 that as the Present Flourishing Condition 〈◊〉 the Russian Empire renders it one of the most â—â—â—siderable in Europe so were it not that the 〈◊〉 of their Government seems to be a â—onstant check to their growing greatness in reference to their Traffick it is more than probable 〈◊〉 under the Auspicious Reign of so hopeful a 〈◊〉 as now Sway 's the Sceptre it might conâ—â—â— for the Superiority with the Greatest and â—owerful Kingdoms of the Universe FINIS Books Printed for Abel Roper at the Black Boy in Fleet-street THE History of Poland in several Letters to Persons of Quality Giving an Account of the Ancient and Present State of that Kingdom Historical Geographical Physical Political and Ecclesiastical viz. It s Origine and Extent With a Description of its Towns and Provinces the succession and remarkable Actions of all its Kings and of the Great Dukes of Lithuania The Election Power and Coronation of the King The Senate or House of Lords The Diet and Form of Government The priviledges of the Gentry their Religion Learning Language Customs Habits Manners Riches Trade and Military Affairs together with the state of Physick and Natural Knowledge as also an Account of the Teutonick Order of the Duke of Courland c. By B. Connor Fellow of the Royal Society Published by the Care and Asistance of Mr. Savage The 2d Edition with an Addition of Remarks on Marriage by Mr. Brown of the Marriage-Ceremonies or the Ceremonies used in Marriages in all parts of the World By Seignior Gaya Translated from the Italian Printed for A. Roper and A. Boswel The Grounds and Foundation of Natural Religion discovered in the Principal Branches of it in opposition to the prevailing Notions of the Modern Scepticks and Latitudinarians with an Introduction concerning the necessity of revealed Religion By Tho. Becconsal B. D. of Brasenose College in Oxford
and the Residence of the Metropolitan of the Greek Churches in those Parts Bialacerkievia Corsun Constantinow Bar Cirkassi Czehrin Kudack Jampol Braclovia upon the River Bog Winnicza Human Czernihow Pereaslaw Lubnie Pawolocz Chwastow all of them fortified within these Fifty Years besides which there is scarce a Town or Village but what has something like a Fortification or at least a Ditch which was intended and serves them for a Fence against the Incursions of the Tartars The Peasants of the Vkraine Slavery of the Peasantâ— as well as of several other neighbouring Provinces are absolute Slaves being obliged to work both with their Horses and Hands three or four Days in the Week for their Lords Besides which they are forc'd to allow them a certain Share out of all their Corn and Fruit the Tenth of all their Muttons Swine and Fruits and to carry Wood to their Landlords Houses and to do several other Services But the worst of all was that before the last Wars the Noblemen used to farm out their Revenues here to the Jews who exacted these Services from the Country People with the greatest Rigour imaginable and had also monopolized the Brewing of Beer and Distilling of Aqua vitae This occasioned them to join so frequently with the Cosacks and to dispute so desperately their Liberty against the Nobility who in Consert with the Jews were the Occasion of these many Revolts and forced them at last to seek for an end of their Misery among Foreigners The Cosacks are generally tall strong and well-set Character of the â—osâ—cks but especially very active they are Liberal even to Profuseness putting no great value upon Riches but are great lovers of their Liberty which they look upon as a thing inestimable they are Indefatigable hardy and brave but great Drunkards and Treacherous Their Employment is Hunting and Fishing besides which they apply themselves both to Agriculture and the War They have also a particular way of making Salt-Petre great Quantities of which are carried to Dantzick and from thence transported chiefly by the Dutch into other Parts The Cosacks have a certain Distemper common with the Poles Plica Polonica by the Physicians called Plica Polonica as being peculiar to that Nation which in their Language they call Goschest Those that are attacqu'd by this Evil lose all upon a sudden the Use of their Limbs and are tortured with most horrible Pains all over their Body which commonly continues for a whole Year after which a Sweat coming which continues for a whole Night but especially in the Head their Hair is the next Morning all twisted together into one knotty Lock which has a very nauseous Smell from whence some attribute the first Use of Hair-Powder to the Poles but in a few days after they are cured both of their Lameness and Pain but the Knot and the Smell remain for ever for if they cut it off the Remnants of the Humour which purges it self that way through the Pores of the Head falls upon the Eyes and makes them blind This Distemper is as familiar in Poland as the Itch in some Countries and what is worse is very Infectious It is sometimes like the Venereal Disease communicated by Coition there having been Instances that Children have brought this Distemper with them into the World but as they grow up it decreases by degrees and never returns afterwards It is look'd upon among them as incurable except it be by changing the Air which must be done by going into another Country The Cause of this Distemper seems to proceed from the great quantity of Arsenical Mines which are in Poland and communicate their poysonous quality to the Waters and consequently to their Body which seems the more probable because abundance of their Horses are troubled with the same Distemper and have such a Knot either in their Manes or foretop of which if there be the least part cut off the Horse either dies runs mad or becomes blind and lame I have been very credibly inform'd that tho' the Poles look upon this Evil as incurable several Foreigners travelling in those Parts have cured it with good Success by the same Method and Remedies which are made use of in the Venereal Distemper which seems sufficiently probable for several Reasons not to be alledged here where our Scope is directed to History and not to Physick The Language of the Cosacks is a Dialect of the Polish Tongue Their Language and Râ—ligion as the Polish is a Dialect of the Sclavonian But that of the Cosacks is much more smooth and full of Diminutives which render it very agreeable The Cosacks themselves profess the Greek Religion in the same manner as it was established in Muscovy in the Year 942 by Vlodomir or Wolodomir Prince of Russia but the greatest part of the Nobility of the Vkraine are either Roman Catholicks or else Lutherans or Calvinists Within these Hundred and twenty Years the Greek Churches in these Parts as well as in Muscovy acknowledged the Patriarch of Constantinople for their Head But the Grand Dukes of Muscovy having set up a Patriarch of their own chusing the Greek Bishops in these parts not long after to wit in the Year 1595 sent two Deputies to Rome who in the Name of the Greek Churches of Black Russia did represent to the Pope in the Presence of many Cardinals a Confession of Faith conformable to the Council of Trent reserving only to themselves the Liberty of the Ceremonies practised in the Greek Church after its Union with the Latin at the Council of Florence but they did afterwards retract and acknowledged for their Ecclesiastical Head a Metropolitan of their own who for some time resided at Kiovia CHAP. VIII Of the Language Habit Manners and Customs of the Muscovites and of their Marriages Oeconomies and Interrments THE Muscovian Language is a Dialect of the Sclavonian Their Language as well as the Polish so that he who understands either of these two cannot be at any great Loss for the Muscovian The Sclavonian being the Mother-Tongue of a great many Dialects is in great esteem among the Russians their Bible and such few other Books as they have concerning any Sciences being not only writ in the Sclavonian Tongue but also those among the Muscovites who pretend to any Degree of Learning above the rest always affect to make use of some Sclavonian Words in their Writing and Sheech tho' in the Muscovian Dialect which indeed among all the rest comes the nearest to the Sclavonian having not the least Affinity with the Greek except that in their Liturgy there are some Words borrowed from thence which however are not used any where else Their Character is that alone wherein they have any Communion with the Greeks but they have not only much alter'd and transform'd but also considerably augmented them so that their Alphabet consists of Thirty eight Letters in Number which I thought superfluous to insert here since Mr. Ludolph in
many Obstacles to be surmounted in an Undertaking of this Nature And I was not ignorant that the Want of Learning and the Natural Propensity of the Muscovites in general to Jealousie and Secresie would render it at least very difficult if not quite impractieable to give an exact Account of so vast an Empire composed out of several Nations distinguished in their Languages Religion and Manner of Living These Considerations were so prevailing with me as to check my first Inclinations in hopes that some Body or another would lay hold on so favourable an Opportunity of giving a true Description of a Country which has been but superficially known hitherto in England But perceiving that no Body would venture to engage himself in the Design I took a Resolution to undertake the Task though never so difficult rather than to let slip so seasonable an Opportunity as offered it self by the Arrival of His present Czarrish Majesty in England of giving the Publick the best Account I could of the Russian Empire The Vastness of its Territories a great many whereof are quite unfrequented by Strangers did put me under an absolute Necessity of having Recourse to those of several Nations in Europe that have had the Opportunity of Travelling in Muscovy For as I was fully resolved to insert nothing in this Treatise but what I had received upon the Credlt of those that had been Eye-Witnesses of their own Relations so I was obliged to consult the Travels and most especially the Embassies of the English Germans French Dutch and other Nations into those Parts And for as much as it is obvious that scarce ever any one Foreigner did visit one half of this spacious Empire I was put under an indispensable Necessity of supplying the Defects of one with the Relations of others who had according to their several Occasions taken different Roads in their Travels through Muscovy But here it was I found my self engaged in â—hese Difficulties which were not easie to be surmounted For in comparing the several Relations of different Persons and Nations 〈◊〉 found it a very difficult Task to reconcile in some measure the various Descriptions of Places especially in what relates to their Situations and Distances occasioned doubtless by the most stupid Ignorance and Jealousie of those Muscovites from whom they had received their Intelligence The History of Muscovy it self even that of the last Age is entangled in such Perplexities in point of Chronology that some of the best Historians of our Age whom I will forbear to name have been surprised into some Mistakes of this nature For the rest As the Manners and Customs of the Muscovites as well as their Religion and Policy are very different from most other Nations in Europe and either not at all or at least but superficially known in these Parts so the ensuing Relation may in all probability serve not only to instruct but also to divert the curious Reader I must confess the present Muscovian Empire might well have deserved a Treatise suitable in Bulk to its vast Extent But the Eagerness which most of my Friends shewed in the Publishing of it at this Season obliged me tâ— contract it into as narrow a Compass as the Matter would allow of Which as it haâ— been done with all the Brevity imaginable so I have been very careful in not passing bâ— any thing of Moment which I believed mighâ— be material and tend to the Satisfaction oâ— the Reader It was for this Reason also 〈◊〉 thought it most expedient to divide the whole into two distinct Volumes the first of which contains a Description of those several Nations and vast Territories under the Obedience of the present Grand Czar of Muscovy together with their Laws Customs Manner of Living Religion and Policy With an Account of the Origin of the Russian Empire and its Increase till the Death of that famous Tyrant John Basilovits towards the Latter End of the last Age. But the various and most surprizing Revolutions which after the Death of this Grand Tyrant happen'd in the Muscovian Empire either in Consideration of their various Vicissitudes or the Strangeness of their Events surpassing not only what former Ages have delivered of this kind but hardly to be parallell'd by Posterity I reserved the full and exact Relation of them to the Second Volume with a Continuation of the Muscovite History and the whole State of Affairs from the Year 1613 when the Family of the present Czar first ascended the Throne till the Arrival of His Czarrish Majesty in this Kingdom ERRATA PAge 7. line 24. for 50000. read 60000. p. 29. l. 6. f. great r. some p. 45. l. 20. f. be r. is p. 49. l. 2. f. two r. no. p. 55. l. 15. f. pice r. piece p. 61. l. 13. f. found r. forc'd p. 6â— l. 14. f. having r. being p. 65. l. 13. f. Imposter r. Imposture l. 23. f. Impostor r. Imposture p. 81. l. 19 f. often r. Use of 〈◊〉 p. 83. l. ult f. as r. which p. 92. l. 2. f. before r. but. p. 100. l. 34. f. some other of their Customs r. some of their other Customs p. 101. l. 28. f. Nest r. Stye p. 108. l. ult f. what r. which p. 110. l. 31. f. ox r. or p. 329. l. 36. f. again r. against MOSCOVY or RUSSIA c. AN ACCOUNT OF THE Antient and Present State OF Muscovy CHAP. I. Of the Territories belonging to the Grand Czar of MUSCOVY MVscovy was formerly the Name properly belonging to one Province only of the Russian Empire of which Musco is the Capital City But as it is observable in France that the Province of that Name has communicated its Name and includes all the rest of 〈◊〉 French King's Dominions so Muscovy compreâ—â—â—ds now adays all those vast Provinces under the Grand Czar's Obedience This vast Country a Part of the Antients Sarmatia Europaa was heretofore known by the Name of Roxolania Russia or White Russia from whence the Name of Russians given to the Muscovites has its derivation It is without question the greatest Empire of all Europe its length being near Six Hundred and its breadth above Three Hundred Leagues The extent of the Russian Empire Northward it extends it self to the Frozen Sea beyond the Artique Circle on the East it hath the River Oby on the South the Crim and Precopian Tartars and towards the West it borders upon Poland Livonia and Sweden its whole extent being from the 46 to 66 degrees of Latitude and from the 55 to the 80th degree of Longitude Considering the vast distance of the several Provinces which compose this great Empire it is easie to be imagined that of necessity there must be a great difference as to the length of Days Heat and Cold and no small variety of Seasons Soil and Fruits according to their several Climates of which we shall have occasion to say more hereafter when each of them will be treated of in particular Nevertheless it is
Juan â—elike or Great John was built by Czar John Basiâ—vitz standing by it self covered with Copper â—ilt its height being computed to be near the same â—ith that of St. Mark 's in Venice The second is â—nly Remarkable for its Great Bell which being â—ot to be managed but by the hands of Thirty Men 〈◊〉 seldom made use of but on great Festivals and 〈◊〉 honour the Entrance or Audience of a great Amâ—assador There are also within the compass of â—e Castle kept several of the Courts of Justice â—e Exchequer and the Grand Magazine of Proâ—â—sion and Ammunition Immediately without the â—ates of the Castle Walls is a very fair Church on â—â—e South side called St. Trinity or Jerusalem â—hich appeared so extraordinary a piece of Archiâ—â—cture to that great Tyrant John Basilovits that as soon as it was finish'd he caused the Architect's Eyes to be pull'd out to prevent his attempting any thing like it hereafter The Castle is faced by a very fair spacious Place the chief Market of the whole City and place of Resort not only for Buyers but for Persons of all degrees eve◠〈◊〉 the very Slaves The midst of it is taken up for the most part with Sempstresses Shops and 〈◊〉 store of other Women-Traders who 〈…〉 of selling Rings set with Rubies and 〈…〉 endeavour to vend their hidden 〈…〉 But what is the most regular and beautiful is that each particular Street leading to this Market-place has a certain Trade allotted by it self so that the Merceâ— does not intermingle with the Woollen-Draper noâ— the Linnen-Draper with the Goldsmith Furrieâ— Taylor or Shooemaker but every Trade having its proper Station the Buyer may with the greatest conveniency in the World in an instant cast his Eyes upon such Commodities as will serve his occasion It ought not to be forgotten here that the Painters have none of the meanest Station among the rest here for their Employment being to furnish the Muscovites with the Images of Saints they deal with their Chapmen by way of Exchange or Trucking where they are sure to make their own Market for a Muscâ—vite looking upon it as a point of Conscience to buy or bargain for a Saint seldom refuseâ— the Painter's demand The remaining part of this inner Circuit or Quarter of the City is taken up with the Houses of the Principal Merchants besides thâ—se of some Knâ—z and Muscovian Lords The Second Quarter Czaargorod or the Royal City which includes the First iâ— a Semicircle is called Czaargorod or the City Royal the little River Neglina passes through it being enclosed in a particular Wall called Biela Stenna oâ— the White Wall Here is the Arsenal and the Place called Poggana appointed for the Casting of Gunâ— and Bells in which the Muscovites are not behindâ— hand with any other European Artificers In thâ—â— part also live a great many Knâ—z Lords and Gentlemen besides a prodigious number of Traders of all sorts the rest is fill'd up with Butchers Bakers Drinking-Houses Corn-Chandlers Meal-shops and the Grand Duke's Stables The Third Quarter which running from the East all along the North-side to the West The Third Quarter of Musco called Skoradom includes the Quarter of Czaargorod is called Skoradom the little River Jagusa runs through it and afterwards falls into the River Mosca In this Quarter is the above-mentioned place for selling and buying of Houses The Fourth and Last Circuit is that called Strelitza Slavoda The fourth Quarter called â—trelitza Slavoda or the Suburbs of the Musqueteers belonging to the Great Duke's Guards who have this part of the Town assigned them for their Place of Abode It lies on the other side of the River Mosca Southly from that part of the City called Cataygorod its Ramparts and Bastions being all of Wood were design'd against the Irruptions of the Tartars Musco is inhabited not only by Muscovites but also by a great number of Tartars Persians and Greeks the latter being most agreeable to the Muscovites both in Religion and Manners are preferr'd by them before all other Strangers They allow nevertheless the publick Exercise of Religious Worship not only to the Lutherans and other Protestants but also to the Turks Persians and Tartars except the Jews and formerly the Roman Catholicks There is a large Slaboda or Suburb without the City Gate of Prokoski The Suburb called Nova Inasemska Slaboda called Nova Inasemska Slaboda where most of the Foreign Christians live together every one according to their own Country Fashion in which place the Germans English and Dutch c. do most commonly reside Besides the Grand Duke's Palace and the Castle that which appears most beautiful to the Eyes of Strangers is the great number of Churches and Chappels in the City and Suburbs of Musco of which their being Two Thousond in number every Lord having his private Chappel and each Street one at least some two or three built of Stone and of a Circular Figure whose Steeples being all covered with Copper make a most glorious glittering show at a distance especially if you happen to approach the Town in a bright Sun-shiny day The next City of Note in this Province is called Columna Columna situated on the right side of the River Mosca about 70 English Miles distance from the City of Musco by Land it being near Sevenscore Miles by Water It is of a considerable bigness and environ'd with a very fair Stone Wall and Towers a thing not very common in Muscovy it is the Residence of a Weywode or Russian Governour which shews it to be one of the most considerable of the Province It is to be observed that there is but one Bishop in all Muscovy who keeps his Residence in this City But what is most Remarkable here is that about three Miles above this Place near the Convent of Kolutin Serge Monarstir founded by one Sergius a great Saint among the Muscovites The River Occa. The Mosca falls into the River Occa which coming from the South is not only much largeâ— and broader than the former but having besideâ— that on both sides a Noble Country very populouâ— and fruitful and a great number of fair Oaks oâ— both shores which are look'd upon as a Rarity 〈◊〉 Muscovy renders it the most delightful in the World Two days Journey from Columna near the Borders of the Province of Rhesan is the City of Peresla or Preski seated upon the very Banks of the River Occa at 42 Degrees 42 min. Elevation being governed by its particular Weywode or Governour There are also in this Province some otherâ— less considerable which for brevity's sake we must pass by in silence The second Province of the Southern Muscovy 〈◊〉 the Province of Werotin Werotin having borrowed its Name from the Capital City of the same Name besides which it has two Cities more the first called Croom the latter Arvel all three of them so inconsiderable as not to deserve a particular Description here
of those Tartarian Nations but also by settling a fair Correspondence with them to open to themselves a free passage into China Among the Tartarian Nations which inhabit that vast Tract of Ground betwixt Siberia and China the Tartars of Calmuck of Mongul and Bogdoi are the most considerable whether for the extent of the Countreys they inhabit or the prodigious number of their Inhabitants The first discovery of these Parts has chiefly been owing to the Industry of those employed by the Muscovites in Sable Hunting whom they in their Language call Yachutehiki or Hunters of Sable Martins These are for the most part composed not only out of Malefactors or Criminals but also out of some Officers or Boyars who for some reason or another having fall'n under the Grand Czar's Displeasure and being banished into those places where these Creatures are caught the hopes of Gains has by degrees drawn them further and further after the Search of these Creatures even as far as the River Yamour where for their better Conveniency the Muscovites not many years ago have built a Fort in a certain Island of that River which has occasioned no small Contests betwixt them and the Chinese Besides the two ways of catching these Creatures by the Trap and Net mentioned before they observe this Method in these remote Parts There is a certain number of Men Arm'd with Cross-bows engag'd for this Service during the space of seven Years and divided under certain Officers One of these Officers goes abroad at least once a Week with his Hunters and Dogs in Search after these precious Creatures which commonly are lurking among the little Islands which they kill with their Cross-Bows not making use of any Fire-arms for fear of endamaging the Furrs What is thus caught is all for the Czar's Use except a certain Allowance the Officers have for their Pains which however they are obliged to divide in proportion with their Huntsmen to encourage them in prosecuting the Game with the utmost diligence The eagerness after which has at last opened to them the Knowledge of those several Roads which insensibly have led them to the very Borders of China But we will return to those Tartarian Nations and begin with the Tartars Calmucks or Calmouches These Tartars inhabit a vast extent of Country The Tartars Calmucks between the two Rivers of Volga and Jaika extending from Astrachan towards the Caspian Sea and bordering upon the Country of the Tartars of Mongul They are divided into an infinite number of Hordes every one under their particular Chan or Kan who all of them acknowledge the Authority of one who is their Principal Chan he is called Otchicurtican and derives his Pedegree from the Great Tamerlan He is a very Potent Prince and lives in very great Splendor being formidable both to the Neighbouring Tartars and Muscovites themselves the latter of which keep a considerable Garison at Saratof on the River Volga to hinder their Excursions on that side and during the Winter Season are obliged to furnish the Nagajan Tartars about Astrachan with Arms to defend themselves against the Inroads of these Tartars Formerly they used to come every Winter to ravage the Country of the Nagajans but since these by the assistance of the Muscovites have made them sensible of the effects of their Fire-Arms and Canons they content themselves with coming once a Year in the great Plains of Astrachan for the conveniency of Food for their Cattle at a Season when the more Northern parts which they inhabit are quite destitute of it This is commonly done with no less than a hundred thousand Men and they seldom return without having received their usual Present of Bread Aqua-vitae and Tobacco from the Governour of Astrachan There is no question to be made but that the Muscovites are powerful enough to curb the Insolency of these Vagabonds if it were not out of a consideration of the Benefit they receive from the Traffick of their Furrs and Horses which they bring in great Quantities to Astrachan and that they are very serviceable to the Czar in his Wars being accounted the nimblest a◠Encamping and Decamping in the World as being accustomed to it by the frequent Incursions they make into all the Neighbouring Countreys It is chiefly for this Reason that the Muscovites look'd upon it as a piece of Policy rather to allay their Fierceness by some Presents which however by continuance of Time they now demand as an Obligation than to engage in a War against a Multitude of Vagabonds who have nothing to loose they having no Houses or fix'd Habitations much less any Cities but living Winter and Summer in Tents made of Felts in which however both for neatness and conveniency they exceed all the Neighbouring Nations even those that have settled Habitations These as well as all the other Nations of Great Tartary even to the Indies are Pagans except those of Bokara and Samarkand who are Mahometans All the rest of the Pagan Nations acknowledge for the Supream Head of their Religion in the same if not in a more absolute manner as the Roman Catholicks do the Pope a certain High Priest whom they call Dalae-Lama or Lamalamalow The constant Residence of this Impostor is in a very strong Castle The Pagan Pope near the City of Barantola in the Tarturian Province of Tanchut which reaches from the Tartars of Calmuck and Mongul between China and Persia to the Indies and is Govern'd by a great Prince whom they call Deva This Pagan Pope the spiritual Father of the whole Great Tartary is worshipped by these Idolatrous Nations by prostrating themselves before him and adoring him like a God neither are any Strangers permitted to approach him unless they are ready to pay him the same Devotion The Chineses themselves shew a great deal of Veneration to him and whenever he vouchafes to come into China he is received with the greatest Respect and Honour imaginable and never returns without vast Presents He has his Vicars or Vicegerents residing in several of the Tartarian Provinces unto whom they pay the same Adoration as to the Dalaè-Lama or Lamamalamalow himself These Patriarchs or what else you will call them are by the Tartarians called Coutusta Lamas and assume among other Prerogatives an Authority to themselves of composing such Differences as may arise among the Under Chans either by themselves or by such Judges as they are pleased to appoint The chief thing which contributes towards the maintaining the great Veneration these Pagans have for the Dalaè-Lama is that they have been persuaded into a Belief that he is immortal and only renews like the Moon This Impostor is carried on in the following manner As soon as they perceive this Dalaè or Chief Priest to be in danger of his Life those that have the management of this Business make it their whole care to find out among the other Lama's or Vicars one who most resembles him in Person who immediately after the Death
have which they prefer before our Sugar Spices or Vinegar which they have been observed to refuse as they also shew'd more satisfaction in their ordinary Food of Sea-Dogs Calves Reens Foxes House-Dogs and Fish but especially Stock-fish than in any of our Dishes The swarthy colour of these Inhabitants of the coldest Climate in the World might very well furnish us with an Opportunity to make a Digression here in contradiction of what is affirm'd by Pliny to wit Lib. 2. c. 78. That the heat of the Sun burns the Skin as on the contrary the Cold whitens it if Natural Philosophy were not at present beyond our scope wherefore we will pursue the Tract of our History and give a short Description of Livonia The Country of Livonia or Liefland Livonia borders on the East upon Muscovy on the North it is divided from Sweden and Finland by a Gulph of the Baltick Sea called by the Latins Sinus Livonicus On the West it hath the Baltick Sea and on the South Samogitia Lithuania and Prussia It is of a very large extent being near 600 English Miles long and 200 broad It is divided into three Provinces to wit into Esthonie Lettie and Courland The first of these Provinces is subdivided into five Circuits called Hanie Wirland Allentaken Jerwe and Wiecks its Metropolis is Revel as Riga of the Province of Lettie and Goldingen is the Capital of Courland The City of Revel The City of Revel the Capital of the Province of Esthonie is situate upon the Baltick Sea at 50 degr 25 min. Latitude and 48 degr 30 min. Longitude It hath for its Founder Waldemar or Wolmar II. King of Denmark who laid the first Foundation of it in the Year 1230. But King Wolmar III. sold it in the Year 1347. with some other Cities in that Country to Goswin d' Eck the then Master of the Livonian Order of Knights The Muscovites have for above these Hundred Years past been very ambitious to unite not only this City but also the whole Livonia with the Russian Empire which has occasioned several Wars not only betwixt them and the Masters of the Livonian Knights but also with the Swedes after this City had put it self under the Protection of Eric King of Sweden near a Hundred and Fifty Years ago This City is very Famous for two memorable Sieges it held out against the Muscovites the first in the Year 1570. the second in the Year 1577. both which the Muscovites were forced to raise with great Loss The City is fortified according to the Modern way but its chief strength lies in its Castle which being most advantageously situated upon a Rock steepy on all sides renders it almost unaccessible except towards the City where it is defended by very good Works It has a most excellent Haven fitted rather by Nature than Art for the convenience of Trade especially with Muscovy It is one of the most Antient Towns belonging to the Hanseatick League and had for some Years in Conjunction with the City of Lubeck the Direction of the College belonging to the Hanseatick Towns in the City of Novogorod Veliki It was very flourishing in its Commerce from the Year 1477. till the Year 1550. when having broken with the other Hanseatick Towns the Muscovites soon after took the City of Narva and established there the Trading they had before in this City Notwithstanding which it enjoys to this day the Priviledge of being a Mart which has been confirmed to them by several Treaties betwixt the Muscovites and Swedes to wit in the Year 1595. at Teusma in the Year 1607. at Wibourg and in the Year 1617. at Stolvova tho' at the same time their Wings have been clip'd of late Years as to several Priviledges granted to them formerly by the Masters of the Livonian Order and were since look'd upon as dangerous to the Prerogatives of their Sovereign The Ecclesiastical Government is here like in most other Commonwealths that profess the Protestant Religion according to the Tenure of the Ausburg Confession administred by a Consistory and a Superintendent And their Civil Constitution comes very near to a Democratical State the Magistrates having no Power to Transact any thing of moment without the Advice of the Principal Men of several Professions and in Matters of Extraordinary Consequence not without Summoning every Freeman of the City Within half a League of it towards the Sea-side are to be seen the Ruins of a stately Monastery about 200 Years ago dedicated to St. Bridget by a very wealthy Merchant of this City The only thing Remarkable here is a Book composed of the Foundation of this Monastery intimating That the Religious Men and Women for it consisted of both of this Monastery had been so ingenious even in those days as to have found out a way to make themselves to be understood by one another by certain Signs without the help of Words The next City of Note in the Province of Esthonie Narva is Narva situate in the Circuit of Allentaken at 60 degrees Elevation It hath its Name from the River Narva or Nerva which having its rise in the Lake Pripis falls with a very swift Current into the Gulph of Finland about Ten Miles below this City Near three Miles above it there is a most dangerous Cataract or Water-fall which obliges the Ships that come down the River from Plescou and other Places to Narva to unlade their Merchandizes near that Place This Town which is not very large but exceeding strong by reason of the adjacent Castle is said to be built as well as the City of Revel by Wolmar II. King of Denmark and was in the Year 1558. besieged and taken by John Basilovits Great Duke of Muscovy but recovered by the Swedes in the Year 1581. under the Conduct of Pontus de la Garde the Swedish General under whose Jurisdiction it remains to this day It hath for many Years past enjoyed the same Priviledges with the other Hanseatick Towns and was in the last Age a Place of very good Traffick till the Muscovian Trade was from thence by the English and Dutch transferred to Archangel and the Wars betwixt the Muscovites and Swedes destroyed its Commerce During the War betwixt the English and the Dutch in Oliver Cromwel's Time the Commerce to Archangel being interrupted there began to be a Prospect of reviving the Trade into Muscovy abundance of Ships making use of this Harbour for that purpose at that time so that the Haven was repaired and several new Additions were made to the Town for the Conveniency of Strangers It has two Castles belonging to it one on this side of the River and the other on the opposite Shoar in a Peninsula made by the River Nerva It is called Ivanovogorod and was built there by the Muscovites upon a Rock so inaccessible that it was judged Impregnable and was not taken by the Swedes till in the Year 1617. when Gustavus Adolphus made himself Master of it At the
whole Family upon a very slender Account So much are they accustom'd to Slavery that they scarce look upon it as a Punishment Sometimes the Executioner for a Present will suffer the Debtor to put a small Iron Plate under his Boots The same Rigour is used without any difference to all of what Quality Condition Sex or Age soever A Bojar or Muscovian Lord giving his attendance at Court or at any extraordinary Solemnity Pag. 177 CHAP. X. An account of the Coronation of the Czars of Muscovy their Grandeur Revenue Marriages c. NO sooner is the Czar of Muscovy dead but Messengers are sent every where to summon the Chief Officers of the Court and others who are to be present at the Coronation to repair to the City of Musco where this Solemnity is perfoâ—med with all the Expedition imaginable and sometimes the very next day after the Decease of the Predecessor The Metropolitans Archbishops Knez Boyars and the principal Merchants of the Kingdom being entred the place at the day appointed for the Coronation of the new Czar a Scaffold is erected three Steps high and covered with Persian Tapestry in the great Church within the Castle On this Scaffold are set three very rich Chairs at an equal distance from one another to wit One for the Great Duke another for the Patriarch and the third for the Ducal Cap embroider'd with Pearls and Diamonds with a Tassel on the Crown of it on which hangs a little Crown all over beset with Diamonds of a great Value and the Robe which is made of the richest Brocado lined with Sables The new Czar The Czar's Coronation attended by the Patriarch and Metropolitans being come within the Church the Clergy begin to sing certain Hymns which being done the Patriarch prays to God St. Nicholas and other Saints desiring them to be present at this Great Solemnity The prayer being ended the Chief Minister of State takes the Grand Duke by the Hand and presents him to the Patriarch and says The Knez and Boyars having acknowledged this Prince the lawful Heir to the Crown as being the next of Kin to the late Czar they desire that you may Crown him immediately The Patriarch then leads the Prince upon the Scaffold where being seated in one of the three Chairs he blesses him with a little Cross beset with Diamonds by putting it to his Head and immediately after one of the Metropoâ—â—tans reads the following Prayer O Great Lord our God thou King of kings who by the Prophet Samuel didst once chuse thy faithful Servant David to be King over thy People of Israel hearken to our Prayers which we thy unworthy Servants offer up unto thee at this time Look down from the highest Heaven upon thy faithful Servant here present who through thy Grace thou hast exalted to be King over thy People and thy Son hath redeemed by his Blood Anoint him with the Oil of Chearfulness protect him by thy Power and Crown him with a precious Diadem grant him a long and happy Reign put the Royal Scepter into his Hands that he may sway it upon the Throne of Justice Let all barbarous Languages acknowledge his Power and let both his Heart and Vnderstanding be always directed to thy fear and during the Course of this mortal Life let him never recede from thy Commandments Let Heresie and Schism not come near his Person or Government and may he always maintain and observe what is commanded and ordained by the holy Greek Church Judge thy People in Justice and shew thy Mercy to the Poor that when they leave this Valley of Misery they may be received into eternal Joys The whole Prayer he concludes with these Words For thine is the Kingdom the Power and the Glory God the Father God the Son and God the Holy Ghost be with us and remain with us The Prayer ended two Metropolitans by order from the Patriarch take the Cap and Robe up which are taken from their Hands by some Boyars who put them upon the Grand Duke whom the Patriarch blesses a second time by touching his Forehead with the Cross of Diamonds and whilst he is saying In the Name of the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost and imparting the third Blessing to the Grand Duke the Ducal Cap is by two of the Boyars put upon the Patriarch's Head who causes all the rest of the Prelates there present to approach and give the Benediction to the Great Duke but only with their Hands Then the Great Duke and Patriarch sit down but raise again immediately when the Litany is sung every Verse ending with God have mercy upon us and the new Czar's Name The Litany ended both the Great Duke and Patriarch sit down again when one of the Metropolitans approaching to the Altaâ— sings the following Words O God preserve our Czar and Grand Duke of all the Russes whom God out of his great Mercy hath bestowed upon us God grant him good Health and a long and happy Life All that are present repeat the same Words and the Boyars and Chief Lords approaching to the Great Duke as a sign of their Subjection smite their Foreheads before him and afterwards kiss his Hand This Ceremony being over the Patriarch standing alone before the Great Duke admonishes him in the following Words Since through the singular Providence of God the Estates of the Kingdom as well Ecclesiastical as Temporal have Acknowledged and Crowned You Great Duke over all the Russes and have Entrusted You with a Matter of so great Weight as the Government of so great a Kingdom You ought to employ all Your Thoughts to the Love of God to the Obedience of His Commands to the due Administration of Justice and the Protection of the True Greek Religion Then the Patriarch gives him once more his Bendiction and the whole Assembly goes from thence into the Church of St. Michael the Archangel which is opposite to the former where the Lâ—â—any is Sung over again as before the same is done afterwards in the Church of St. Nicholas where an End is put to the Ceremony and the whole Assembly is most magnificently Entertain'd in the great Hall of the Great Duke's Palace In former times the Chiefest Dignity in the whole Empire Principal Offiâ—ers of the Court. was that of Lord High Steward of Muscovy call'd Sunderstrevoi Coiniske When Zurki was called to the Crown he was in that Office since which time it has been suppressed The next and which is now the first in Dignity is the Duaretskoy or Great Master which is correspondent to our Lord High Steward of the Houshold The next in order is the Orusnitshei or Master of the Horse These three precede all the other Boyars and Lords of the Court. Next to these are the two Secretaries of State the first whereof is the Lord Keeper of the Great Seal or Chancellour the other is the Vice Chancellour After them come the Posticnizei or Lord Chamberlain who makes the Great Duke's
publish'd till after the Consummation of the Marriage forasmuch as the Person the Czar makes Choice of which is done by Tying a Crown upon her Head is exposed to the Envy and Malice of such other Ladies as have been refused by the Prince so that to avoid any dangerous consequences but especially the Charms of these Rival Ladies which are much fear'd by the Muscovites there is scarce any thing known of the Czar's Marriage till it is Proclaim'd by the Sound of the Great Bell in Musco perhaps the finest in the World As the Fashion of the Czar's Cloaths is like that of the Nobility The Czaritza but only richer so the Dress of the Czaritza or Empress is little different from other Women the Attire of her Head is something higher and her Smock Sleeves are much longer to wit ten or twelve English Yards besides that her Robe or uppermost Gown has wide Sleeves not unlike to those of our Batchellours of Arts These are worn by all her Women of Honour Chamber-Women Ladies and Embroideresses The Father or Brother of the Czaritza or Empress dare not call her his Daughter and Sister nor dare any of the Kindred own themselves so It is a general Custom among the Russians The Czarovitz not to let their young Children be seen by any body but their nearest Relations for fear Strangers should cast some ill Aspect upon them This is more strictly observed with the Czarovitz or Son of the Czar none being permitted to see him unless it be his Tutor and Family Servants till he be fifteen Years old when he is exposed to publick View At the Birth of a Czarovitz the people to demonstrate their Joy bring great Presents to the Court which are for the most part return'd but if the Czar likes any of them he pays to the full Worth for them The Czar's Children are attended by other Children bred up with them who exactly know their distance and what manner of Respect is to be paid to them as well as other Persons of what degree soever None of them dare speak the least Word of what passes in their Court as it is death for any one to Reveal what is past in the Czar's Palace CHAP. XI Of the Religion of the Muscovites and their Church Government THE Muscovites do all profess one and the same Religion which may be said to be particular to them forasmuch as it extends not beyond the Grand Czar's Dominions unless it be at Narva where some few Muscovites live under the Jurisdiction of Sweden and that there is some Analogy betwixt them and those Inhabiting the Polish Russia that profess the Greek Religion The Muscovites glory that they are the only True Christians now in the World forasmuch as they are baptized whereas others have been only Sprinkled which is the Reason they alledge for Re-baptizing all such of what Persuasion soever that embrace their Religion They profess as they say the true Greek Religion which makes them shew abundance of Respect and Kindness to the Greeks so that the Greek Monks or Priests which frequently come from other parts into Muscovy with their Relicks know how to make an Advantage of their Simplicity and Ignorance They found their Religion on the Books of the Old and New Testament They are forbidden to bring the whole Bible to Church tho they are allowed to read it at home by reason of several passages in the Old Testament so that they only carry the New Testament and some certain chosen Psalms and Verses taken out of the Prophets It is about threescore years ago that they got the Bible translated into the Russian Language wherein they followed as they pretend the foot-steps of the Seventy Interperters They have also a certain Book which they call the History of the Gospel but the whole so adulterated with Fabulous Narrations and Impertinent Circumstances that in another Christian Country it would be so far from being look'd upon as a Book of Devotion that it would appear abominable As to the Explication of the Bible they follow St. Cyril Bishop of Jerusalem who flourish'd towards the latter end of the Fourth Age under the Reign of the Emperor Theodosius and ought not to be confounded with Cyril of Alexandria The rest of the Fathers which are in greatest esteem among the Russians are John Damascene Gregory Nazianzen St. John Chysostome and Ephraim the Syrian of whom they relate that an Angel having presented to him a Book writ in Golden Characters which no body could disclose he immediately received those Instructions from thence which he has transmitted in his Books to Posterity They relate out of their Annals that the Christian Religion was first established in these parts by the Apostle St Andrew who leaving Greece came to the Borysthenes where he embark'd and by the Sea of Ladoga came to Novogorod where he Preach'd the Gospel That the Christian Religion was afterwards extirpated by the Neighbouring Pagans who made themselves Masters of Muscovy till in the Year 989. Prince Wolodimer or Vlodimer Great Duke of Russia having given them a signal Overthrow and re-united several of these Provinces to his Crown grew so famous for his great Atchievements that Basilius and Constantine Porphyrogennetae Emperours of Constantinople sent their Ambassadours to Congratulate his good Success and that by the Conversation and Instructions of these Ambassadors Prince Wolodimer was induc'd to embrace the Christian Faith and to receive Baptism John Cropalates who writ part of the Byzantine History and lived much about the same time as also Cedren and Zonaras chiefly attribute the Conversion of the Russians to the Christian Religion to a Miracle perform'd by a Bishop that was sent thither by the Patriarch of Constantinople to instruct and baptize the people For these Infidels having objected to him That since God had preserved Daniel's Companions in the Fiery Furnace why might not with the same or more reason the Bible be prevented by God's power from being consumed by Fire The Bishop after having told them that he was assured he could not ask any thing from God which he could not obtain by his prayers cast the Bible into a great Fire made for that purpose where having lain till the Fire was all spent it was taken out as entire and untouch'd as it was cast in whereat Wolodimer being moved abolish'd all Idolatry and in lieu thereof planted Christianity in all his Territories From hence it is that they deduce the Origin of their Religion from the Greek Church which however they have much alter'd since The Creed of Athanasius is the general Rule of their Faith for they believe in God the Father as Creator of the World in God the Son as Saviour and Redeemer of Mankind and in the Holy Ghost as Sanctifier of all the Faithful but for the rest they are involved in a great many Superstitions and fix the Center of their Devotion more in the outward and Ceremonial Part than in the Internal Part
as big and somewhat thicker than a Crown Piece and hath in the middle the sign of the Crucifix This figure after it is Consecrated the Priest takes off with an Instrument not unlike a Launcet and puts it up in a wooden Box hanging above the Altar to preserve it from Rats and Mice If a sick Person is to receive the Communion they take a little of it upon which they put a few drops of Red Wine and a little Water in the Chalice which they give to the sick Person with a Spoon if the sick Person be not capable of swallowing the Bread they give him only a little Wine In the ordinary Administration of the Sacrament they make use of the same sort of consecrated Bread but not bigger than half a Crown from which they also take the Crucifix and break it into as many pieces as there are Communicants which they cast into Red Wine and mix it with a little warm Water and so Administer with a Spoon What remains of the Bread after Consecration is called Kutja or Holy Bread of which the Priest gives a Morsel to each of those who have Communicated the Week before At the Administring of the Sacrament the Priest says these Words This is the true Body and the true Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ which hath been given for thee and for many more for the remission of thy sins which thou shalt take in remembrance of him God bless thee There have been some who from these Words have drawn this inference as if the Muscovites believed Transubstantiation against which several pregnant reasons may be alledged to the contrary For if you Discourse the Muscovites concerning the Consequences of that belief they will not refuse to own it irrational nay absur'd and ridiculous neither do they call to their aid as the Roman Catholicks do God's Omnipotency Besides that they dont pay Adoration to this Mystery which doubtless they would do in a Religion so Zealous and Superstitious as theirs were they of the same Opinion as to this point with the Roman Catholicks Sick Children though never so Young receive the Communion but in one kind till they are seven Years Old when they Communicate like the rest as we have observed before They do not refuse the Communion to Madmen but they only touch their Lips with the Bread dip'd before in the Wine A Woman in Child-bed is not to Communicate in the same Room where she was brought to Bed but must be first washed and carried into another place Those that have committed Murther are not to be Communicated but at the point of Death if those that lie in extremity are to be Communicated they gave them first some Water or Aqua-vitae wherein some relicks have been put then they receive the Communion and at the same time the Extream Unction which done they are to take nothing else nor any Nourishment unless there be very apparent Signs of their amendment There are some among the Muscovites who at the last extremity cause themselves to be Shaven and become real Monks This once done they are not permitted to take any thing for a Week after being perswaded that they are no more Men but become Angels And if they happen after these Eight Days of Abstinence to recover their Health they must go into a Monastery because the Razor has passed upon their Heads Formerly they used to send the Consecrated Bread to those Places in the Country that were destitute of Priests They used also to give it to Travellers to reserve it for a Case of Necessity But this Custom is now quite abolished in Muscovy The Ecclesiastical Government of Muscovy consists of a Patriarch Their Hierarchy who resides in the City of Musco four Metropolitans seven Archbishops and one Bishop besides the Arch-Deacons Proto-Popes and Priests The four Metropolitans are those of Novogorodskoi and Welikoluskoi who resides at Novogorod Of Rostoufskoi and Harostauskoi who has his Residence at Rostoâ— Of Casanskoi and Sunatskoi at Casan And that of Sarskoi and Pondoskoi who lives within the Castle at Musco The seven Archbishops are those of Wologdskoi and Weliko Premskoi who has his Seat at Wologda Of Resanskoi and Moromskoi who lives at Resan Of Susdalskoi and Turruskoi who has his Residence at Susdal Of Twerskoi and Cassinskoi at T were Of Sibirskoi and Tobolskoi at Toboleska Of Astrachanschoi and Terskoi who resides at Astrachan Of Pleskouskoi and Sborskoi who lives at Pleskou There is but one Bishop in all Muscovy to wit that of Comenskoi and Cassieskoi who keeps his Residence in the City of Columna The Patriarch hath always about him an Arch-Deacon who is as it were his Vicar-General He hath also a Proto-Deacon residing in the Castle of Sabor The rest of the Ecclesiastical Order are distinguished into Proto-Popes and Popes or Priests Those that attend at Church toll the Bells and do other inferiour Offices are called Pangamari The Patriarch of Muscovy has the same if not a greater Authority as the Pope has in the Latin Church for he in a manner divides the Sovereignty with the Great Duke He is the Supream Head and Judge of all Ecclesiastical Affairs And such is his Power in all Matters that have any Relation to their Religion that he reforms whatever he thinks prejudicial to this Religion or good Manners without giving an Account of it to their Great Duke Yet not so but that his Orders must be put in Execution by the Czar's Commands The Patriarch of Constantinople had heretofore the Nomination of the Patriarch of Muscovy till in process of Time he had only the Confirmation and in this Age he hath lost both At present the Patriarch of Muscovy is chosen by the Great Duke and the other Prelates The Latter meet in the great Church within the Castle called Sabor where having nominated two or three Prelates the most eminent for Learning and other good Qualilities they present them to the Great Duke who after a Conference with these Prelates proceeds jointly with them to an Election If it happen that those proposed for the Election are equally eminent for their Learning and Piety it is with the Grand Duke's Approbation sometimes decided by Lot The Patriarch Their Prelates marry not Metropolitans Archbishops and the Bishop in Muscovy are not to marry but make a Vow of Chastity as long as they continue in that Dignity For the Prelates as well as the Priests are allowed here to quit their Orders whenever they think it convenient They must not wear Rings on their Fingers They wear neither Drawers nor Shirts of Linen Cloth but of Flannel Neither do they make use of Beds The ordinary Habit of the Patriarch Their Habits Metropolitans Archbishops Bishop and even of their Monks is very near the same They wear a black Cassock and over that an upper Garment of the same Colour not much different from that worn by the other Muscovites Their Hoods are at least an Ell and an half