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 THE UBRARY OF THE 
 UNIVERSITY OF 
 NORTH CAROLINA 
 AT CHAPEL HILL 
 
 ENDOWED BY THE 
 DIAliCriC AND PHILANTHROPIC 
 SOCIETIES 
 
 Folio 
 
 DK23 
 .DU72 
 
 1752 
 
a 00001 59069 2 
 
 This book is due at the LOUIS R. WILSON LIBRARY on the 
 last date stamped under "Date Due." If not on hold it may be 
 renewed by bringing it to the library. 
 
 DATE 
 DUE 
 
 DATE 
 DUE 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 ICT J 7"B< 
 
 
 
 
 m — 
 
 
 
 - , ... AP 
 
 1 1 9 '96 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
OF 
 
 MO SC O Fr: ' 
 
 CONTAINING 
 
 I. Its ancient and modern State, Situation, Extent, Latitude^ 
 Divifion into Provinces, Rivers, Soil, Sterility and Fertility^ 
 with the CommoditieSj and Obfervations on the Extremities 
 of Weather, Heat and Cold. 
 
 II. The Cities and Towns, Fortification, and Manner of Build- 
 ing ; the firft Difcovery made by the Englip 3 Populoufnefs r^Vy 
 of the Country, Wild Beafts, and Difpofitidn of the Natives. ■ 
 
 III. Their Religion, Marriages, Obedience of the Women t6 * ^ 
 their Hufbands, Divorce, Burials, and other Ceremonies 5 
 
 their Diet, Liquors, Stoves, Hot-houfes, Habits, ^c. 
 
 IV. The Government of the Provinces and Shires, their Courts 
 of Juftice, Parliaments, ^c, 
 
 V. Their Military Affairs, Degrees and Order in it, Arms, Dlf- 
 cipline, with other Matters. 
 
 VI. Strange Fifh, Beafts, Fowl, and other Rarities of Mofcovy. 
 
 VII. The Succeflion of the Royal Houfe of Mofcovy to the 
 Year 1698, being an hiftorlcal Account of all the material 
 Tranfafitions happening for 1600 Years; the Manner of the 
 C Z A R's Coronation, Arms of Mofcovy^ and Degrees of the 
 Nobility, ^c. 
 
 The whole cofitaining all that is necelfary to be knonon concerning that 
 
 VAST EMPIRE. 
 
 Cggg 
 
A 
 
 DESCRIPTION 
 
 V i 
 
 O F 
 
 S C O FT. (Sec 
 
 J E find by experience, that God in Sea, viz. the dukedoms of Mofcow, TFolode^ 
 his infinite wifdom . has framed mar, Rezan, and fome others. Since this 
 and pofited the gldbe.of darth and 'it has been enlarged by addition and con- 
 
 queft, and is at prefent under a fingle go- 
 , vemment, notwithftahdihg all the efforts 
 t\iQ Tartars and . pthef bqrdGring countries 
 have made to hinder the flourifliing of it, 
 'arid to fliare the frontiers amongft them ; 
 to which end.'.tJiey have made cruel wars 
 and inroads, fhedding much blood, plunder- 
 ing, burning, atid committing many oth^ 
 
 outrages. 
 
 waters, .with the dependent elements, fo 
 adrtiirably in every part, tjiiat^onan can- 
 not but be furprifed with wonderjwhen he 
 Confiders the harmony in all the fpacious 
 mafs ; and his curiofity would be tired with 
 a too tedious fearch into every particular. 
 Let it fuffice then that modern difcoveries 
 have brougljt to light what, former ages 
 knew little (or were altogether ignorajit) 
 
 of. I fliall not infift on the American- ox The principal provinces of- Mofcovy (for Divlfioa. 
 
 new world ^(fp termed by mariy.) which, but fo I muft properly call it) zxq Wohdemary 
 
 a few ages paft, all Europe, atid, I may Mofcow, Plejkow, Nifnovogrod, Smolenfco, 
 
 with reafon fay, the thep, two other divi- Nomgrod-^oelica (oi* Novogrod of the lower ' 
 
 lions of the fuppdfeci total yriiverfe, were country) Mofchora, Roftove, Ghaletfa, Uf- 
 
 ijrangers toj fop'my btiiinef^ at prefent hot tuga, Vagha, Cargapolia, TaruJIave, Bealo, 
 
 lying that way, I fhall bend Jc oh the ^esayRezan, and Duina. Thefe with their 
 
 vaft northern tra6t of country, anciently dependencies are very large, far exceed- 
 
 hinted at, and now fo well difcovered by ing our fliires in England ; and though they 
 
 the name of RuJJia; but more properly, to ^.re termed the natural provinces, there yet 
 
 follow the modern writers, Mofcovy^z^ tho. remain others gained by enlarging their 
 
 far nobler and moft accepted name of that borders, viz, Twerra, Toughoria, Condora, 
 part of the earth, producing great advan- ■ Permia, Abdoria, Vedjka, BoulgUoria, Cbe^ 
 
 tages to fuch as trade with it, and an im- ringo, Oudoria, comprehending Siberia, 
 
 provement of knowledge to thofe that Cazan and AJlracan, with fome others now 
 
 dependent on the government of ikfi?/'?(j'z,3;.- 
 
 and ex- 
 tent. 
 
 travel its fpacious limits. 
 Its bounds iThe famed country of Mofcovy, or as 
 fome will have it Rujfia, is bounded on the 
 eaft with the river Ob, or Oby, and the 
 Negayan Tartars ; on the weft with Lithu- 
 ania, Livonia arid Poland-, on the north 
 with Lapland and the ocean on the fouth 
 with a part of Tariary, called the Crime e : 
 It was formerly called Sarmatia, and, as 
 moft fuppofe, changed its name (becaufe 
 it was divided into divers fmall, but abfo- 
 lute governments) to that of Rujfia ; for, 
 in their language, the word fignifies ^ fart- 
 ing or dividing. 
 
 When this country was called Sarmatia, it 
 was divided into two principal parts, the 
 white and black. The firft of thefe contained 
 all that lieth towards the north, and on the 
 part of Liefland, viz. (as now the provinces 
 are named) Vagha, Duina, Wologda, UJlio, 
 Cargapolia, Novogrodia, and fome others 
 gf lefler note. As for the black Sarma- 
 tia of the ancients, it comprehended the 
 foyth^ro part, towards the Emine or Black 
 
 So that this fpacious country, from north 
 to fouth, meafured from Cola to AJiracan, 
 which bends fbmewhat eaflrward, i"s in 
 length about 4260 verfts, a verft being 
 fomething more than three quarters of an 
 Englijh mile ; and northward beyond Cola 
 are other territories, but the extream cold 
 is there very oppreffive, fo that they are 
 not much fertile when their coat of fnow is 
 diffolved by the fun in the four hot fum- 
 mer months. The breadth from that part 
 which lieth the fartheft weft from the Nar^ 
 va fide to the part of Siberia eaft ward, is, 
 in a manner, equal to the length. 
 
 Mofcovy is watered by many large ri- Rivers, 
 vers, moft of them, when the weather is 
 open, being navigable, fome by lefler and 
 fome by larger vefTels that procure a con- 
 fiderable trade ; but in the rigid feafon they 
 are frozen over, fo that fleds and carriages 
 pafs on them from place to place : They 
 abound in fifh, and the Volga is famous for 
 the great quantity of fturgeon taken in it. 
 
 Ic 
 
Digitized by tine Internet Arcliive 
 
 in 2015 
 
 littps://arcliive.org/details/clescriptionofmosOOosbo 
 
A Description oj Moscovy. 
 
 241 
 
 Soil. 
 
 Latitude. 
 
 Sterility. 
 
 fertility. 
 
 Obferva- 
 tions on 
 its ex- 
 treme heat 
 and cold. 
 
 It is about 2800 verfts in length, an En- 
 'gliflj mile in moft places over, and empties 
 its waters into the Cafpian fea, running by 
 JJtracan, and other towns of note, to 
 which it brings a confiderable trade. The 
 other rivers of note are the Boryjihenes, 
 that divideth the counry from Lithuania^ 
 and falleth into the Euxine fea ; the Ta- 
 na/.Sy or Don^ the ancient boundary be- 
 tween Europe and AJia, falling into the 
 great lake of Mceotis, by the city of 4foph ; 
 Duinay falling unto the bay of St. Nicholas^ 
 northward ; and to be brief, a great many 
 more, as Mofcow^ running through the city 
 of that name, and about ten others very 
 large, befides fmaller ftreams, the leaft for 
 length and breadth comparable to the ri- 
 ver of 'Thames ; and from thefe proceed 
 many branches : fo that take the country 
 in general, it is as well watered as can be 
 defired,and accommodated with feveral good 
 ports and havens. 
 
 The foil of this fpacious country cannot 
 be reafonably expedred (any more than 
 others) fertile in ail places alike, and par- 
 ticularly in fome parts, by reafon of its 
 northern iituation, lying from 33 to 69 
 degrees and Ibme minutes north latitude : 
 Yet it is wonderful to fee how God has or- 
 dered things here to the advantage and for 
 the fubfiftance of the inhabitants. The 
 earth for the moft p-irt is of a light fandy 
 mould, but not alike for producing fuch 
 things as fpring up northv/ards, towards 
 5"/. Nicholas and Cola ; and north-eaft to- 
 wards Siberia^ there is an indifferent fleri- 
 lity, the country there being full of defarts 
 and vaft forefts, by reafon of the extremity 
 of the climate in the colder feafon 5 but 
 from the Volga, which lies almoft' 1 700 
 verfts from the port of St. Nicholas^ down 
 towards Mofcow^ and fo the fouthern parts 
 that border on the Crimee, that contains 
 near the like fpace, the country is very 
 fruitful in the proper feafon, yielding paf- 
 ture, corn, flowers, pleafant fruits, and 
 woods in gfcat plenty ; and fo it is between 
 Rezan and Novogrod (that lies fouth-eaft 
 from Mofcow) and other parts, as between 
 Mofcow and Smolevjkoy that lies fouth-weft 
 tov<i2sAsLithuania ; infomuch that one would 
 wonder to fee the great alteration between 
 winter and fummer in Mcfcovy. In the 
 former, the whole country is cover'd by a 
 continual falling fnow, that is fometimes 
 a yard or two in depth in the fouthern 
 parts, but more exceffive in the north •, 
 and the cold is fo extreme, that the rivers 
 and other v/aters are frozen to a vaft thick- 
 nefs, and this ufually continues for five 
 months, njiz. from the beginning of No- 
 'vember till towards the end of March, at 
 which time the fun's warm beams returning, 
 the fnow begins to melt away, which makea- 
 
 the face of the country look very fright- 
 ful, and the ways, on the thaw, for a time 
 unpaflTable. But then, as it were on a 
 fudden, the face of nature is changed for 
 though a little before, v/ater thrown up ki 
 the air would defcend in ice drops, and 
 any metal grafped faft in one's hand would 
 ftick to the flcin and make it blifter, 
 [and many people venturing too far have 
 been frozen to death in the ftreets, and 
 on their journies in the fleds] now the 
 woods, that are moftly of birch and fir, 
 give a pleafing fight, the meadows and paf- 
 tures look green and grow apace, variety 
 of flowers appear in the fields, and the 
 birds make a pleafing harmony, the night- 
 ingales there in abundance have a clearer 
 note than with us : and this fudden growth 
 of things proceeds from the benefit of the 
 fnow, which lying fo long keeps ofl"' the 
 rigour of the froft, and diffolving fo tho- 
 roughly, drenches and foaks the earth, that 
 the fun coming hot as it were on a fudden . 
 into a cold climate, the plants and herbs, 
 ^c. find fuch a nourifliment that they 
 fooner ftioot forth than in warmer coun- 
 tries ; and indeed, confidering the paft 
 cold, the heat is greater than ufually with 
 us in June, July, and Auguji, which produces 
 ftore of apples, pears, plums, cherries 
 black and red, a fruit like a mAiflc-meloti, 
 but more pleafant in tafte j cucumbers, 
 gourds, rafberries, ftrawberries, hurtle - 
 berries, and many other berries ; alfo wheat, 
 rye, barley, peafe, bufkway, pfnytha^ 
 tafting fomewhat like rice ; and fometimes 
 they have fuch plenty, that wheat is fold at 
 two Engltjh pence a bulhel : the rye is fowed 
 before the froft, all other grain for the moft 
 part the beginning of May \ but the northern 
 parts are ufually ferved in a great degree 
 by the fouthern with corn, as being more 
 fterile. 
 
 This country above others is noted for 
 rich furs, which they get by hunting divers 
 creatures, as alfo for hides, tallow, wax, ho- 
 ney, flax, hemp, tar, and other valuable 
 commodities. 
 
 Of the animals of this country I fhall 
 treat particularly in due place : but now . 
 purfuing the method I propofed to ob- 
 ierve, the next thing that offers is the 
 cities, towns, and the like, that adorn and Cities,^'^. 
 beautify the country ; and thofe of note 
 are, 
 
 Mofcow, the metropolis, from which the Mifcovj, 
 country at prefent feems to take its name, 
 as that city does from the river, on whofe 
 bounds it ftands. It is about twelve miles 
 in compafs, and may contain about 41500 
 families, convents, churches, and chapels. 
 The houfes in general are built with wood, 
 plaifter'd with mortar and ftraw, done over 
 with lime brought from Smolenjko^ i^c. and 
 
 then 
 
A Description of Mosgovy 
 
 then covered over with boards and bark of 
 trees, which renders them cooler in fum- 
 mer, and warmer in winter ; but fubjeds 
 them more to fire, of which they have 
 had many fatal experiments : {'or anno 1571, 
 the Tartars burnt it, and in it deftroyed 
 about 80000 perfons anno 161 1, th.o.Po- 
 landers fired it ; anno i^yS, an accidental 
 fire happened, and funk 5000 houfesin the 
 conflagration. But fince then care has been 
 taken to rebuild thofe devaftations, for the 
 moft part ; and at prefent it is reckoned 
 among the flourifhing cities of Europe : 
 and guards are appointed to prevent the 
 progrefs of that raging element as much 
 as in them lie, for the future preferving 
 of the buildings. 
 
 The churches and houfes of the perfons 
 of quality are built with ftone and brick ; 
 and fome of the principal churches covered 
 with gilt copper or tin, and adorned with 
 many large globes of the fame m.etal. 
 There is a bell raifed on a tower (I con- 
 ceive) the largeft in the world ; for it is held 
 to weigh 176 Cwt. though it has been 
 clipped, and fome Cwt. of metal taken 
 from it, to make it found the better ; it is 
 24 foot in height, and the clapper 21 foot. 
 By pulling the clapper, and ftriking againft 
 the fides, it is rung on particular occafions. 
 The form of this great city is in a man- 
 ner round, with three ftrong walls circling 
 the one within the other, the ftreets lying 
 between, whereof the in moft inclofure, in 
 the heart of the city, is all accounted the 
 Czar or great duke's caftle •, and the river 
 accommodates it with a fuflRciency of wa- 
 ter, ftore of fifli, and other provifions. 
 Tlie caftle is four-fquare, fituate on a hill 
 two miles about, with brick walls very 
 high, and of a vaft thicknefs it has fixteen 
 gates, and as many bulwarks : the chief 
 markets are kept here, and on the river, 
 when it is glazed with ice : this river in- 
 clofes the caftle on the fouth-weft fide, and 
 in it are nine fair churches with gilt fpires. 
 
 The next city of note is Novogrod^ but 
 not fo ftately as Mcfcow. The houfes are 
 built with timber laid in, and faften'd with 
 dents or notches and fo fixed together 
 hold well. The ftreets, inftead of paving, 
 are planked with fi» and other timber very 
 neatly, of which Providence has plenti- 
 fully ftored them ; fo that a houfe may be 
 built for a little matter, as twenty or thirty 
 rubles. This city boafts of the famed 
 ftory of the Scythian bondmen, who, re- 
 belling againft their mafters, and feizing 
 the city, their effedls, wives, &c. in their 
 abfence, and overthrowing them on their 
 return in a bloody battle, were, at length, 
 neverthelefs difcomfited and brought un- 
 der by their mafters coming upon them 
 only with horfe-whipsj which put them in 
 
 mind of the chain of fervltude they had 
 fo lately broken, and confequently tenlficd 
 therh into obedience ; and, upon this ac- 
 count, they have a coin bearing the im- 
 preflion of a horfeman fliaking a whip at 
 a flying flave, current all over Mofcovy. . 
 
 The other cities of great note are Rc- Othef 
 Jlove, fFoIodemar, SmoknJ^o, Pkjkow, Taru- ^-'^f'^'i 
 JiaveJVologda^ Perijlave, NifnovogrodyAffra- 
 can, Cargapolia, Columna, Uftive, Cazan, 
 Golmigreo j and of thefe Aftracan, Taru- 
 Jlave and Cazan have the precedency, by 
 reafon of their convenient fituation on the 
 borders fo commodioufly near the Volga. 
 Tarujlave exceeds the reft, for (befides the 
 plenty of pafture and corn the foil yields) 
 it has a great trade by the river, being 
 pleafantly fituated on a high bank over-, 
 looking it, and from its fituation it feems 
 to take its name ; for that in ihtRufs lan- 
 guage fignifies a fair bank, though they 
 boaft It Irom Uiademira, furnamed Taru- 
 jlave, who married the daughter of Harold 
 king of England, by the mediation of Sueno 
 the Dane, anno 1067. To thefe of note I 
 may add Vobjko and Smolenjko, which, in 
 fome meafure, ftand in competition with 
 them. Wologda is a pretty large city^ take- 
 ing its name from the river that pafifes 
 through it : it has a caftle walled in with 
 brick and ftone, and many churches, but 
 moftly built of wood ; and whereas there 
 are two for a parifli, one is fo contrived 
 that it may be heated with ftoves in the 
 winter. It is a town of much trade, tho* 
 lying far from any fea-port. 
 
 There are many confiderable towns, as Colmogra. 
 Colmogro, ftanding on the river Duina \ 
 which is a great town, though without 
 walls J the building is fomewhat fcatter- 
 ing; and near the bay of St. Nicholas (lb 
 called from an abbey feated there v/hen the • 
 Englijh made a difcovery of this country) 
 ftands Archangel, where they have a fac- 
 tory and convenient buildings, which lies 
 in about 64. degrees north latitude and 
 on the banks of the river Duina ftands the 
 caftle. The Englijh have likewife lands 
 hereabouts afllgned them ; and in this cold 
 part (fo pleafant is the country when the 
 fnow is cleared, which it is doing two 
 months, and then the ground In fourteen 
 days Is dry) the grafs is foon knee deep j 
 and In an ifland in St. Nicholas bay, feven 
 or eight miles in circuit, called Rofe-Ijland^ 
 grow damafk and red rofes, violets, wild 
 rofemary, and other pleafant things ; fo 
 that to be brief, I cannot but conceive this 
 country, as to Its many waftes and barren 
 places, has been mifreprefented, and per- ' 
 haps by fome envious neighbours, becaufe 
 the Englijh had the honour and advantage 
 firft to difcover the north-eaft palTage by ^^"^'^'j- 
 fea, which was done by one Chancelour an fa^ge^dlf- 
 
 Eyiglijhman, covered. 
 
I 
 
 A Description of Moscovy. 
 
 3 
 
 Englitloman^ anno 1553; Sir Hugh Wil- 
 loHghby and others mifcarrying in that te- 
 dious and painful fearch : but fince then, it 
 has been eafy and prafticable, not only to 
 us but other nations. The EngUJh, above 
 others, have found an encouragement, upon 
 the account of their being the firft difco- 
 verers for, before, the trade lay through 
 Poland and other hoftile territories. But, 
 not to make any long digreffion, I fliall 
 proceed in my intended brevity. 
 Populouf- This country, confidering its largenefs, 
 neis. is well peopled, where the huge lakes and 
 deferts take not up the fpaces, and woods 
 render it impracticable •, yet thefe are ad- 
 vantageous to them, in affording ftore of 
 fifh, fowl, and wild beads, which yield the 
 , natives great advantage, their flefh for 
 food, and their fkins, feathers, tallow, ^c. 
 for merchandife. The lakes are very large, 
 mod of them navigable, but not very 
 commodious to live near, by reafon of the 
 great fogs and damps that arife from them •, 
 and as for towns and villages near the great 
 forefts and woods, the inhabitants mull be 
 in fome apprehenfion of danger from the 
 Dan<rer great num.ber of wolves and bears that rove 
 ofvvTld about for prey ; which ravenous creatures, 
 beafls. pinched in the exceflive rigour of winter 
 with cold and hunger, contemning the 
 fear of dogs or fire-arms, will come out in 
 troops, and make a fearful havock among 
 the people and their cattle. 
 An ac- The natives of this country are very in- 
 counc of duftrious and patient of hunger, yielding 
 the na- a profound homage and refped to their 
 prince, paying their taxes with a willing 
 and chearful obedience, and running readily 
 to the wars on the firft command or fum- 
 mons ; where it is ftrange to fee what 
 hardlhips they will endure, for when the 
 ground is covered with fnow very thick, 
 the common foldier will lie in the field 
 without a tent or covering over his head, 
 only he hangs up his mantle againft that 
 part from whence the wind drives, and 
 kindling a fire lies down before it •, his food 
 is oatmeal and pulfe, and his drink the cold 
 ftream ; and tho' his horfe feeds on green 
 wood and bark, he performs the fervice of 
 the war, or travels as well as thofe that are 
 pamper'd in ftables with more convenient 
 provender, notwithftanding he has no 
 other covering than the canopy of heaven : 
 and thofe foldiers that bear hardfhip the 
 beft, and delerve well by memorable ex- 
 ploits, are rewarded fometimes with money, 
 and at others with certain lands alTigned 
 them during life, which the czar of Mofco- 
 "jy always has in his donation, in one part 
 or other of his country, for this purpofe. 
 IPI^eiP Their religion properly is that of the 
 religion. . Greek church, differing in many things 
 . from the Romlfli and reformed churches : 
 ■ Vol. I. 
 
 their fervice is in their own language ; 
 they receive the eucharift in both kinds, 
 obferve four Lents^ and have fervice daily 
 in their churches. They have many mo- 
 nafteries poffeffed by monks and, friars, 
 which have confiderable revenues in land 
 and houfes belonging to them, and like- 
 wife deal in merchandife. When two 
 friends meet in the Eajter holy-days, they, 
 in a folemn manner, join hands ; one of 
 them thereupon faying. The Lord is rifen, 
 and the other anfwering. It is fo of a truth ; 
 and then they kifs. They have a metro* 
 politan, or patriarch, who is in high efti- 
 mation among them, and reverenced as 
 much as the pope among the Roman-Ca- 
 tholicks. They have a veneration for our 
 lady, St. Nicholas^ and other faints. 
 
 Their manner of courtfhip is but Ihort *, Courtihip 
 for when they make love, the man fends 
 prefents to the woman ; and flie accepting 
 them, the match is foon agreed ; but if 
 they are returned, it is a fign Ihe likes noc 
 the party- that makes the proffer : and 
 among other prefents fometimes a whip is 
 fent, to let the woman know v/hat fhe has 
 to truft to if fhe be difobedient, or break 
 her marriage -vows ; and, for the genera- 
 lity, they are fo far from refenting it as 
 an affront, that, when married, the wife 
 loves her hufband the better if fometimes 
 he corre6ls her ; and concludes he loves 
 her not, if he altogether declines it. But 
 this proved fatal once to an Englifh fhoe- 
 maker, who marrying a Rufs woman, and 
 fettling in that country, thinking to gain 
 her love to a high pitch this way, upon 
 being informed that her peevifhnefs pro- 
 ceeded from the want' of it, he fo over- ' 
 loaded her with his kindnefs, that fiie died, 
 for which he loft his own life by the hands 
 of an executioner. The women indeed 
 are very obedient' to their hufbands, and 
 the better fort efpecially feldoni ftir abroad 
 but on particular occafions. And as 
 to their marriages, becaufe the ceremony 
 is novel to us, I fliall mention the moft 
 particular matters relating to it. 
 
 The day bein^ come, the bride puts ori j^j^^^.^ ^ 
 her head a kind of a hood made of fine' '^"'^2^* 
 lawn or knit-work, that veils her to die 
 middle ; and fo with her friends, and the 
 bridegroom with his, they go to the church 
 on horfeback, though it be near ,at hand. 
 They marry with ring, and the words 
 of contraft and ceremony much agree 
 with ours. The ring put on, and the 
 contradt pronounced, the bride's hand is 
 delivered into the hand of the bridge- 
 groom, ftanding the while on one fide of 
 the altar or table, and the bride on the 
 other. The knot being thus knit by the 
 prieft, flie comes about v/ith the bride- 
 groom to the -end of the table, and falling 
 H h h h down 
 
244 
 
 A Description of Moscovy. 
 
 down at his feet, knocks her head upon 
 his flioe, in token of fubjedion and obe- 
 dience : then the bridegroom cafts the lap 
 of his gown over her, fignifying his duty 
 to proteft and cherifh her. Then the 
 bride's father and friends bow to the bride- 
 groom, and his to the bride, in token of 
 love and affinity between the two kindreds. 
 • This done, the bridegroom's father deli- 
 vers the prieft a loaf of bread, who pre- 
 * fently returns it, upon a folemn promife 
 that the dowry fhall be delivered at the 
 day appointed, and that friendlhip fhall 
 continue between one kindred and ano- 
 ther : So the bread' is broken, and they 
 eat it amongft them, to teflify their true 
 and fincere meaning for performing the 
 charge and promife, and thenceforth to 
 become as crumbs of one loaf, or men of 
 one table. 
 
 Divorce. They ufe divorce among them, and it is 
 often pratftifed on flender pretences for a 
 man may go to a monaflery and fhave 
 himfelf a friar, in a pretended devotion, 
 and quit himfelf of his wife, and leave her 
 to her fliifts : yet this is mofbly pradlifed 
 among the vulgar. The women of quality 
 aje held in more efleem yet without dif- 
 tinftion they are very obedient, and pay a 
 profound refpeft to their hufbands. 
 Burials. ■ As for the burials of their dead, it is 
 done with much ceremony. They put 
 them on new fhoes, and put a letter in 
 their hands^ directed to St. Nicholas^ inti- 
 mating the party to be a Rujs man or wo- 
 man, dying in the true faith. When the 
 ground is frozen, that no fpade can enter 
 it, they lay up their dead in houfes, which 
 they call God''s houfes and when the 
 ground is pradlicable, they bury them in 
 their clothes, caufing prayers to be faid 
 over them and befides the relations, there 
 are other women mourners, who are em- 
 ploy'd for that purpofe. They have great 
 veneration for the crofs, images, and holy 
 water. Once a year the rivers are hallow'd 
 with much ceremony by the bifhops, and 
 then there is great ftruggling among the 
 people for the water, and fome leap into 
 it, though in a fevere feafon ; and women 
 dip their tender infants, concluding there 
 is great virtue in it ; and it is often given 
 to the fick, in order to recover them, or 
 , cleanfe them. 
 Ceremo- They keep many vigils, and other days 
 nies on fet apart, and are very zealous in their way 
 other oc- of worfhip. Their patriarch wears a globe 
 cafions. i^jg mitre, feeming to fignify his uni- 
 fality over the church. In their religious 
 worfhip, i£c. they ufe a great many cere- 
 monies, too many here to enumerate. 
 The vulgar fort little affed' learning, and 
 are not much knowing in the affairs of 
 Other countries, bending their ftudies or 
 
 induflry on tillage, handicrafts, and other 
 inferior offices, little affedling travel, tho' 
 their merchants journey and trade in divers 
 countries of Europe and AJia ; having great 
 advantage in the latter, by reafon of the 
 commodious fitituation of the Cafpian fea, 
 into which the river Volga carries them, 
 falling with fuch violence, that it keeps 
 its ftream for fome leagues in the falt- 
 water. 
 
 The MofcoDites are generally very bul- Their 
 ky, much affeding a plump fleffiy corpu- Jiet and 
 lency ; and this may happen by reafon of^^^'^'^S- 
 their feeding, which they do very plenti- 
 fully among the better fort, and fuch as 
 are able to keep good tables, though their 
 diet is rather much than over-curious. 
 They commonly begin with a chark^ or 
 fmall cup of aqua-vita^ which they call . " . 
 Rufs-zvine; and after that drink not dll 
 toward the end of meals, and then they 
 are not fparing. They have variety of 
 difhes ; the firft are their baked meats, for 
 roafl-meat they little affed ; and then 
 their broths or pottage : After dinner they 
 ufually fleep on benches. The drink of 
 the better fort is mead ; but the poorer 
 are content with a thin drink called quas, 
 not exceeding our fmall beer, which many 
 drink. The women are moflly of grofs 
 bodies, and not fo comely as in many Eu- 
 ropean countries wherefore, knowing their 
 natural defeit, to be the more beloved of 
 their hufbands, they ufe art to mend their 
 complexions, but their paint and wafhes 
 are eafily difcerned ; -but it being the fa- 
 .fhion, it is rather commended than re- 
 proved ; and the hufbands allow their 
 wives and daughters a competency to buy 
 red and white colours for this purpofe : 
 but this, and the heat of their ftoves, Stoves, 
 which are almofl in every houfe, much 
 dries and wrinkles them, making them 
 look old before they arrive to it ; and for 
 their health, or rather to preferve it, they 
 ufe bath-floves, or hot-houfes, commonly 
 twice a week. Their houfes, by hearing Ho t- 
 their peaches, which are made like German, hou'e- 
 bath-ftoves, and their potlads like ovens, 
 are never vi^ithout a confiderable heat, and 
 many dmes they will come out of them 
 fweating, and fometimes plunge into the 
 water when they are exceeding hot ; which 
 would certainly kill any but thofe that 
 have inured their bodies to the two ex- 
 tremities of heat and cold, which few or 
 other nations do equal to them. 
 
 As for their habit, they generally drefsDrefs. 
 after the Greek fafhion. The better fort 
 go very decently and very richly dad, and 
 their habit in fome meafure fhews a dif- 
 tindion of degree by fome or other little 
 variation. They fhave their heads clofe, 
 unlefs fallen under the prince's difpleafure, 
 
 and 
 
A Description of Moscovr. 
 
 24^ 
 
 Govern- 
 ment of 
 the pro- 
 vinces. 
 
 How di' 
 vided. 
 
 I. Court 
 
 judiea- 
 
 tuie.' 
 
 IT. 
 
 III. 
 
 IV. 
 
 and then they let their hair grow, as a mark 
 of dejedlednefs or fbrrow fo to have oftend- 
 ed as to be out of favour. .Their garments 
 differ in fluffs, though Httle in fafhion ; 
 the women affe£ling ri(ch ones as well as 
 the men, as cloth, rich furs, lilks, cloth of 
 gold, or interwoven with it, ufually hang- 
 ing down to their ancles or heels; tho' their 
 fummer-garments are much lighter than 
 thole they wear in winter, the latter being 
 always well lined with coftly furs, as black 
 fox, ermine, martin, grey, fquirrel, &*c. 
 of wtiich creatures, and many others yield- 
 ing furs, they have abundance in the feve- 
 ral provinces. But the Monfick and his wife 
 go meanly clad, yet will they not be out of 
 court fafliion as near as may be ; their up- 
 ' per garments are Coarfe cloth, and their un- 
 der ones fheep-fkin with the wool on, though 
 fo dreifed that they are very warm and pli- 
 able ; but this is forwinter,for in the fummer 
 the man goes in his fhirt, and the woman 
 in a linen garment called two fliirts. Thus 
 having given (I hope) a fatisfaftory ac- 
 count of this matter I proceed to others. 
 
 Having proceeded thus far in generals 
 and particulars relating to Mofcovy, I now 
 come more clofely to the latter, as to 
 wh% remains more materially to be dif- 
 cover'd ; and firft of the government of 
 the provinces and fhires of this large do- 
 minion. 
 
 They are properly divided into four 
 • parts, which they call chetfirds^ or te- 
 trarchies every part contains divers fhires, 
 and is annexed to the feveral offices from 
 whence it derives the name, 
 of The firft beareth the name of fofojkoy 
 chetfird, or the jurifdiflion of the office 
 of embaffages, and the fhanding falary to 
 the officer is yearly 100 rubles or marks, 
 befides great advantages accruing. 
 
 The fecond is called roferadney chelfird, 
 becaufe it is proper to the roferade, or high 
 conflable, who has a like falary with the 
 former. 
 
 The third is pomejlenoy chetfird, as ap- 
 pertaining to that office •, and here is kept 
 a regifler of all the lands given by the 
 prince for fervice to his noblemen, gentle- 
 men, and others. This office giveth out 
 and taketh in all the affurances for them, 
 and the chief officer has 500 rubles per 
 annum. 
 
 The fourth is called cajfanjkoy-deworets^ 
 as being appropriated to the office which 
 has the jurifdiftion of the kingdoms of 
 Aftracan and Cazan, with the cities and 
 towns lying on the Folga, and its flipend 
 is 1 50 rubles per annum. From the ju- 
 rifdiftion of thefe offices, but a very few 
 places are privileged or exempted, except 
 the czar's inheritance, or vochin, as they 
 call it ; for that it pertained from ancient 
 
 time to the houfe of Beala. This confifleth 
 of thirty-fix towns, with their bounds or 
 territories, and fome other particular roy- 
 alty : Thefe great officers refide at court, 
 and carry their offices with them where- 
 ever they go : They receive all complaints 
 and aftions that are brought out of the 
 feveral f^f/;5r^/j,andquarters,to exhibit them 
 to the czar's council and fend them back, 
 and to fend diredion to thofe that officiate 
 under them in the provinces for all mat- 
 ters given in charge by the prince, or his 
 council, to be done or put in execution 
 within their precin6ls ; and* each of the 
 dukes of lower nobility in head towns, 
 hath in commilfion with him a dyack or 
 fecretary, to affift and advife him, the better 
 to regulate and order matters as they fall 
 out and are dire£ted, and their commiffion 
 is to this effed, wz. 
 
 1. To hear and d-etermine all civil mat- Their ju- 
 ters between man and man, and to that rifdi&ona 
 purpofe they have under them many fubfli- 
 
 tute officers. 
 
 2. They have cognizance of all crimi- 
 nal matters, as theft, murder, treafon, ^c. 
 but there lies an appeal from them to the 
 czar's council ; and though they take the 
 evidence in this cafe, they mufl draw up 
 the evidence and information of the caufe, 
 and fend it ready digefled to the officer of 
 the chetfird whereunto the province belongs, 
 by whom it is preferred and propounded to 
 the council ; for they are not to deterrnine 
 criminal mattefSj or do execution on the 
 offender, without the council's order.. 
 
 3. If within the province there beany 
 publick fervice required, as the publifhing 
 of a law, or common order, by way of 
 proclamation, muflering foldiers, colleft- 
 ing taxes, or impofitions, ^c. it is proper 
 to them. 
 
 Thefe dukes and dyacks are appointed 
 by the czar but for a year, and then at his 
 pleafure he may change them ; which is 
 ufually done, unlefs by merit or intercef- 
 fion any are continued longer ; and though 
 their highefl falary is but 100 rubles per 
 ann. and they come bare into thefe places, 
 in one year they very much inrich them- 
 felves. 
 
 For ordinary matters, there are many 
 other officers that hold inferior courts, and 
 otherways look after the affair, not much 
 differing in the main from what is prac- 
 tifed in England fo that the provinces are 
 carefully regarded, and known bribery is 
 feverely punifhed. 
 
 As for the courts of civil juftice in Mof- 
 covy for matters of contrafl, and others of 
 like fort, befide the former they are of 
 three kinds, and by way of appeal one is 
 fubjeded to the other the lowefl of thefe, 
 appointed for the eafe of the fubje6t, is 
 
 the 
 
Z46 
 
 A Description of Moscovy. 
 
 the office cf tht guhncy Jlaruji^ which fig- 
 nifies in their language an alderman, and of 
 the foljky ftanifi^QV bailiff of the foak or hun- 
 dred J thefe have power to determine mat- 
 ters within their foaks or hundreds under 
 the dukes and dyacks of the province, be- 
 fore whom the caufes may be removed, 
 if not agreed or determined. 
 
 The fecond is held in the head towns of 
 the provinces and Ihires, before the depu- 
 ties of the lords of the chetfirds ; and from 
 thefe they have the privilege to appeal or 
 remove their caufes to the third or chief 
 court held at Mofcow, where ufually re- 
 fide the officers of the chetfirds. Thefe are 
 the chief juftices or judges,every one of them 
 in civil matters, that arife within their fe- 
 veral chetfird or quarter ; and may be either 
 commenced originally before them, or pro- 
 fecuted out of the inferior courts of the 
 fhires by way of appeal. 
 Proceed- Their commencing and proceeding in 
 ings. civil aftions is in this wife the plaintiff de- 
 livers his fupplication, wherein he fets 
 forth the merit of his caufe, or wrong 
 done to him ; then, if allow'd, a reepis 
 or warrant is granted, which he delivers to 
 the preftave or ferjeant, who hereupon ar- 
 refts the defendant, who muft put in furety 
 to anfwer, or elfe be kept in cuftody, and 
 often on this account is laden with irons ; 
 when they come before the judge, the 
 plaintiff pleads his own caufe, and the de- 
 fendant makes his defence ; as for attor- 
 neys and counfellors they are not known 
 in thefe courts. When the evidence, if 
 they have any, is heard, judgment is given ; 
 but if the matter remains doubtful, then 
 the judge demandeth of either party, whom 
 he thinks fit, whether he will kifs the crofs 
 upon that which he denieth or avoucheth ; 
 and he who confents to do it is carried by an 
 officer to the church, where he does it in 
 a devout manner, and this is held a very 
 lacred oath ; and hereupon if it be the de- 
 fendant, he is declared free of the debt, 
 paying twenty pence charges but if both 
 demand this privilege, then they draw 
 lots, and he that -has the befl is only al- 
 lowed it i and thus by ffiort proceeding 
 with a little charge the controverfy is 
 ended ; but if the defendant be condemned 
 and not able to pay, his cafe is miferable. 
 The za- Notwithflanding all I have faid of thefe 
 bore or courts,there is yet another fuperior to them 
 me'nt^' ^ called zabore, or the publick 
 
 affembly, which properly is termed a par- 
 liament. The ftates and degrees of per- 
 fons that are prefent are, i/. The czar. 
 2dly, The nobility of council, ^dly^ The 
 clergy, for I do not find the commons have 
 any peculiar reprefentativ.es in this zahore, 
 or parliament, which is held briefly after 
 . this manner. 
 
 The prince caufes the nobility to be 
 
 fummoned together, v/ith the patriarch, 
 who convocates his clergy, viz. the two 
 metropolitans, or arch-bifhops, with other 
 bifhops, abbots and friars, as are moft 
 learned, and of befl repute : Thefe af- 
 femble in the court at Mofcow, and then 
 the day is appointed when the feffions fliali 
 begin. 
 
 The day being come, the clergy af- 
 fembie before, fitting at a place called the 
 Stolliey and when the czar approaches with 
 his nobility, then all the clergy arife, and 
 bowing themfelves, pafs on with their pa- 
 triarch to meet him. Then the patriarch 
 bleffeth him with his two fingers, layino- 
 them on his forehead, and the fides of his 
 face, and then kiifes him on the right fide 
 of his breaft. 
 
 Thefe ceremonies ended, they pafs to 
 the parliament houfe, which is not very 
 ilately,and there they place themfelves in this 
 order. The czar feats himfelf on a throne on 
 one fide the chamber, and not far from him 
 is a little fquare table, whereat fit the pa- 
 triarch with the chief of his clergy, and 
 principal nobility of the council ; alfo two 
 dyacks, or fecretaries, called dummy dyacks, 
 who write down what pafTes, or is to be 
 enafted. The reft take their places on 
 benches that encompafs the chamber. 
 
 Being placed- in this order, one of the 
 dummy dyacks, who reprefents a fpeaker, 
 declares the caufe of their afi^embly, and 
 propounds, as he has it in writing, the 
 principal matters they are to proceed on ; 
 and the points being opened, the patriarch 
 and his clergy have the priority of fpeak- 
 ing, and giving their opinions or advice ; 
 but they ufually, out of a kind of modefly, 
 refufe it, and defire, thefe things being 
 matters of ftate, and other advantasie to 
 the commonwealth, that the czar and his 
 nobles, who are more knowing and learned 
 therein, would order thefe weighty affairs, 
 whilfl they that are churchmen would af- 
 fift them with their prayers, and fo one by 
 one they anfwer to that effecl:. After this, 
 the matters propounded are agreed tofome- 
 times intire, and at others with little vari- 
 ation; for without much difficulty every 
 one gives his confent. Then the clergy 
 take their leaves, bleffing the czar, who 
 conduds the patriarch to the next room, 
 and then returns to his' feat, till things are 
 prepared for his return to his palace. 
 
 The adls that pafs in this manner, the 
 dyacks or fecretaries draw up into form of 
 proclamation, which are fent and directed 
 to be publiffied in the provinces and head 
 towns by the dukes and dyacks or fecretaries 
 of thofe places ; and fo the feffions ended, 
 after a fplendid entertainment, every one 
 has leave to depart. 
 
 The next thing I ffiall treat of is the mi Militaiy 
 litary affairs of Mofcovy, which is a thing^^^"^' 
 
 well 
 
A Description ef Moscovy. 
 
 well wotth noting j and firft of their forces 
 for the war, and chief officers. 
 Thede- The foldiers are called fmahojarjky^ or 
 greesand fonSj of gentlemen, being all or moftly 
 ^e^fol°^ of that degree, by virtue of their military 
 diers and profeffion ; for when they are of years to 
 officers, bear arms, they come to the referade^ or 
 great conftable, who, at their requeft, en- 
 ters their names, allotting them a mainte- 
 nance to fupport their charge, there being 
 lands affigned for this purpofe, annexed to 
 this office, which cannot be alienated j fo 
 that there is, as I may term it, a fucceffion 
 of foldierS) and ufually the whole number 
 in continual pay is as follows. 
 
 Firji^ the dworany^ or penfionary-guards 
 of the prince's perfon, who are 15000 
 horfemen, with their proper officers, and 
 are always in readinefs ; but of thefe there 
 are three degrees, who differ as well in ef- 
 timation as wages, viz. the dworany-bulfhey^ 
 or head penlioners ; xht ferendany dwormy^ 
 ■or the middle rank of penlioners ; the dyta 
 boiarjky, or the lower rank. Thefe have 
 from 100 to 20 rubles per annum^ leflen- 
 ing according to their ftation ; one half is 
 paid at Mofcow^ and the other by the 
 general in the field befides this, they have 
 proportionable lands allotted them, from 
 the greate^ to the leaft. 
 
 There are other horfemen, to the num- 
 ber of 1 10, much like th^ Roman pr^torian 
 foldiers, who have the more immediate 
 care of the czar's perfon when he goes to 
 the wars, all of fpecial account for their 
 truft and nobility, which he chufes him- 
 felf, and caufes their names to be regifter'd j 
 and for their large revenues in penfion 
 places, they are to bring to the wars 65000 
 horfemen, with their furniture and other 
 neceifaries and once a year, if they have 
 no wars, they are to make their appearance 
 on the 'tartar frontiers, fo that there feldom 
 fails of being 80000, a few more or lefs, 
 when they are required to take the field j 
 and greater forces are fpeedily raifed on any 
 occafion out of the fupernumerary finaho- 
 jar/^y,tha.t are not in pay till called upon ne- 
 cefTary occafions, and all willingly flock to 
 the regal ftandard, upon the firft notice ; 
 and if a competent number is wanting, the 
 noblemen that hold lands of the crown 
 are to make them up with their fervants 
 and tenants, called colophey^ who, when 
 the fervice is over, lay down their weapons, 
 and return to their fervile occupations. 
 Over and above the horfemen mentioned, 
 there are feldom lefs than 12000 foot in 
 pay, that bear fire-arms, or gunners, called 
 firelfeys, and thefe are appointed to their 
 feverai pofts, fome to guard the city of 
 MofcGW and the palace, and others difpofed 
 of in garrifons till there be further occafion 
 for them. There are likewife in his fer- 
 : Vol. L 
 
 vice a competent number of ftrangers, and 
 thefe are Europeans of divers nations^ 
 being chiefly employed againft the Tar^ 
 tars. 
 
 The CQ.mmanders in chief of thefe great 
 forces are the voyavod buljhaia, great cap- 
 tain, or lieutenant-general under the czar, 
 ufually chofen out of the four houfes of the 
 chief nobility ; he has joined with him 
 lieutenant-generals of great experience. 
 Befides, there are four officers that have the 
 marfhalling of the army divided among 
 them, called marflials of the field, every one 
 of whom hath his quarter or fourth part. The 
 firft is called prava poljkoy^ or the right 
 wing •, the fecond is levoy poljkoy, or the 
 left wing ; the third rufnoy poljkoy^ or the 
 broken band, becaufe there are detach- 
 ments made from it on any neceflTary oc- 
 cafion the fourth ftorejhovoy^ or the ward-' 
 ing band: thefe have each two marftials 
 under them, who are to mufter and train 
 the foldiers, and execute juftice on oflTenders ; 
 and thefe are commonly chofen out of the 
 110 I have before mentioned: they re- 
 ceive and deliver the pay to the army : 
 under them are t\\& gulavoy^ or captains of 
 thoufands, five hundreds, and hundreds, 
 the petydefetjkoy^ or captains of fifty, and 
 the decetfkifs^ or captains of tens. 
 
 There are,befides the lieutenant-ger^ral, 
 two other voyavods, one mafter of the ord- 
 nance, who hath divers under-officers ne- 
 ceflTary for the fervice, and the walking* 
 captain, or fcouts- mafter, who has under 
 him 1000 expert horfemen to go out on 
 parties, and fpy the enemy •, fo that a 
 Mofcovite army appears very formidable ; 
 and indeed they have done many brave ex* 
 ploits, having taken from the Turks Afoph, a 
 very important place, and of late years, in a 
 fet battle, overthrown and ruined a great 
 army of Turks and Tartars going com- 
 pleatly armed, well underftanding the ufe 
 of fire-arms( whereas formerly their weapons 
 were but flight, moftly bows and arrows) 
 and marching in good order more than 
 ever, as having learned the art of war more 
 perfectly from the Poles, and other neigh- 
 bouring nations. They alfo encamp, en- 
 trench and lodge advantageoufly, being 
 very patient of hunger, thirft and cold, 
 obedient to their officers, and ready to 
 charge the enemy on all occafions. They 
 had in ufe a moving caftle, as they called it, 
 which greatly defended them againft the 
 Tartars arrows, and gave them a more fe- 
 cure opportunity to offend their enemies: 
 this was framed of wood, carried on nume- 
 rous carts, which upon occafion was eafily 
 put together, and made a ftanding 'wall of 
 feven miles, or as few as they thought fit, 
 with loopholes in it, to difcharge their fliot, 
 or dart their arrows \ but I am not weU 
 I i i i aiTuredj, 
 
A Description oj Moscovy 
 
 afiured, v/hether they have fo cumber- 
 fome a machine now in ufe or not, for it 
 is little or no defence againft great artil- 
 lery, which the Turks affifting the 'Tartars 
 life. The Mofcovites are very expert at 
 defending garrifons, and are accounted 
 there better foldiers than in the field : 
 however, by their wars they have greatly 
 enlarged their borders, almoft on ail 
 fides ; efpecially fince they have enter- 
 tained expert officers of divers warlike na- 
 tions, who have, by their experience and 
 valourous examples, cultivated and ani- 
 mated the foldiery 5 but not too tedioully 
 to dwell on this particular, I lhall now 
 proceed to give the reader a ftiort Iketch 
 of the fifh, beafts and fowls, with which 
 this country chiefly abounds. 
 
 And in the firft place they find upon 
 the coaft of Mofcovy abundance of feals, 
 which they take in this manner : They 
 carry their boats over the ice to open wa- 
 ter, and finding their haunts where they 
 lie balking on huge flakes of ice, in a fun- 
 fhiny day coming out of the fea for that 
 purpofe, they hem them in with their 
 boats, and with great clubs ftriking them 
 on the nofe quickly kill them ; their fkins 
 are good merchandife, and of their fat 
 they make a fort of reddifli oil. 
 
 There is another fea-creature called a 
 morfe^ who has teeth about a foot long, 
 by the help of which he afcends'the rocks 
 to fcek for prey ; and for the fake of his 
 teeth they take him, which exceed ivory, 
 and are of great efteem among them. 
 They have in fome pans of the country 
 white fox, grey and red fquirrels, a large 
 water-rat, whofe fkin fmells naturally like 
 mulk. They have alfo wulberins ; as alfo 
 a bead called lojh or buff^ whofe Ikin turns 
 to a very good account, 
 
 They have a fifh called rihfuba, whofe 
 teeth are as fine as ivory, and ufed for 
 hafts of knives, fword-hilts, ^c. Like- 
 wife fome ufe the powder to antedote poi- 
 fon, as the unicorn's horn. This I hold 
 to be the fame with the morfe \ the word 
 ribfuba in their language rather fignifying 
 the tooth than the fifh. It is caught about 
 Pecliora, or Petzora ; and fome of them 
 have been found with their teeth of two 
 foot long, weighing eleven pounds or 
 more. They have in the woods and moun- 
 tains many wild horfes ; alfo flying fquir- 
 rels, having tufts of hair growing to their 
 fhoulders like wings, which make them 
 feem to fly when they take vaft leaps from 
 one tree to another ; their tails are much 
 broader than others, which fhake and 
 fpread as they leap, and fo facilitates them 
 jn their agility. They have hares the co- 
 lour of ours in fummer ; but in winter they 
 change their coats into milk-white, and 
 
 the fquirrels the like, from a reddifh into 
 a grey, whereof cometh the calaber. They 
 have flore of deer, roe-bucks, and goats j 
 in fome parts elks, on which the Semoids 
 on their borders ride, and caufe their fleds 
 to be drawn by harts, or oUins, large 
 dogs, ^^c. 
 
 Their horfes and fheep are but fmall, Horfes 
 yet both good in their kind. As for fowl and fheep. 
 they have great plenty, as the eagle-hawlcs 
 of feveral kinds the fwan, wild and 
 tame ; the fl:ork and crane the tedder, of 
 the colour of a phefant, but much bigger, 
 living in the fir-woods j of phefant and 
 partridge they have great plenty. The 
 owls in Mofcovy are exceeding large, their 
 ears as big as a man's, and much like 
 them. They have many river-fifli com- 
 mon with ours, as pike, carp, roach, tench, 
 ^c. but others altogether ftrange to us, as 
 the behlouga, or bellougiva, four or five 
 ells long i the feveringa, or fterledy, fome- 
 what in fafhion and tafle like a fturgeon, 
 but not fo thick or long ; the ribela, or 
 white falmon ; thefe are found in great 
 plenty in the river Volga^ and other rivers : 
 in a river near the town of Peri/lave, they 
 take a fifh like our herrings, but not fo 
 big. They have abundance of fait- wells, Salt-welU 
 turning to great advantage in making fait; 
 and near Afiracan, the fea-water being 
 thrown up among the rocks in hot wea- 
 ther, the fun makes it into hills of fait. 
 They have in this country a lucid flate cut 
 out of a rock, which being fpilt into thin 
 flivers ferves as tranfparent glafs ; and in 
 the rivers near the bay of St. Nicholas fe- 
 veral rocks of alabafter. But not to wade 
 too far in matters that to fome may feem 
 trivia], I intend to clofe with what may 
 to others feem more worthy of note ; 
 namely, the fucceffion of the royal houfe 
 of Mofcovy, 
 
 The fuccefllon of the government ofSuccefllon 
 that vafl; country now called Mofcovy, in °^ ^'-f'"' 
 part, and in the whole, has been of anci-'^-^' 
 ent flanding, as will appear in the follow- 
 ing brief hifliory, brought down to the 
 czar Peter Alexiowifz. 
 
 The dukes of Mofcovy are held, though 
 it may be thought fomewhat doubtful, 
 from Augujius Cafar, the fecond Roman 
 emperor ; however (according to other hif- 
 torians, writing of this matter) I fhall trace 
 it from hence to an undoubted certainty, 
 as the times came nearer to us, and briefly 
 touch on what memorably happened by 
 the way. 
 
 They tell us, that Augujius Cafar fent 
 fome of his near kindred to be governors 
 in thefe parts ; and amongfl them one 
 PruffuSy who named his province or go- 
 vernment Pruffia, which lay on the eaftern 
 Ealtk fhore, by the river Wixel ; of whom 
 
 Rurek 
 
A Description of Moscovy. 
 
 kunk Sirianus and truvrio defcending by 
 the fourth generation, were by the Ruffi- 
 ans, then Jiving without civil government, 
 ient for, anno 573, to rule over them, at 
 the perfuafion of Gofiomijlius^ chief ma- 
 giftrate of Novogrod ; and taking with 
 them Olechus their kinfman, they had, by 
 common confent, the government of thofe 
 countries divided amongft them j and all 
 but Rurek dying without iffue, Vorfon his 
 fon fucceeded him in the whole govern- 
 ment, as it had been agreed amongft them, 
 who took to wife Olha^ daughter to a ci- 
 tizen of Plejkowt who brought him a fon 
 called Stojlaus, who fucceeded him, and 
 was flain in battle. He left behind him 
 three fons, to wit, Teropolehus, Olega^ and 
 Volodimir. The latter fupplanted the two 
 firft, and took the whole government upon 
 himfelf ; he married Anna^ fifter to BafiUus 
 the eaftern emperor, and in the year 988 
 was baptifed, as hiftorians fay, upon a mir 
 racle performed by a Greek bifhop, viz. his 
 throwing the book of the gofpel into the 
 fire, and its remaining there a confiderable 
 time untouched by the force of that con- 
 fuming element. 
 
 Volodimir left behind him eleven fons, 
 among whom he divided his dominions ; 
 but Jarojlaus, one of them, by reafon of 
 a divifion among them, got the fole go- 
 vernment into his hands •, and Volodimir 
 his fon fucceeded him, holding his court 
 at Kiow^ on the river Boryfthenes ; he had 
 great v/ars, much enlarged his borders, 
 and was the firft that had the title of Czar, 
 or Cafar^ conferred on him by Conjlans the 
 Greek emperor, who fent him many rich 
 gifts. After him in defcent were Vufze- 
 volodus, George, and Demetrius. 
 
 Then George his fon, who, in the year 
 1237, by Batby a 7'artar prince, brought 
 Mofcovy under his fubjedion, making it 
 tributary to him ; and the Rufs fay, this 
 Bathy was father to Tamerlane, whom they 
 call Temifkutla. 
 
 Then fucceeded JaroJIaus, brother of 
 George ; and to him Alexander his fon : 
 then Daniel his fon, who firft made Mof- 
 cow his royal feat, built the caftle, and 
 took on him the title of Great Duke, and 
 was fucceeded by John his fon, furnamed 
 Kaleta, or Scrip, as the word fignifies, be- 
 caufe he ufually carried one about him, 
 and dealt his alms out of it to the poor. 
 He left the government to John his bro- 
 ther, and John left it to Demetrius his fon, 
 who had two fons, Bafilius and George. 
 The firft. reigning had a fon but doubt- 
 ing his legitimacy, by reafon of his wife's 
 incontinency, he left his brother to fuc- 
 ceed him. But George dying, preferred 
 his nephew, whofe name was Bafilius, be- 
 fore his own fons Andrew and Demetrius ; 
 
 which occafioned much difturbance in the 
 ftate ; for they warred on their coufin^ 
 took him, and put out his eyes yet the 
 nobles kept their allegiance, and John Va^ 
 filiwich his fon fucceeded him. This was 
 he who by his prudence and valour firft 
 brought the name of his country out of 
 obfcurity, and made it renowned in Europe 
 and Afta j ftiling himfelf great duke of Vo' 
 lodimir, Mofcovy, Novogrod, and Czar of all 
 Rujfta : he viorvP lejkow, the then only walled 
 city in all Mofcovy, and fhook off the Tar- 
 tarian yoke, doing many other brave ex- 
 ploits ; fo that the Poles, and bordering na- 
 tions on either fide, courted his friendftiip. 
 
 Gabriel his fon fucceeded him, who 
 changed his name to Bafilius : he recover'd 
 great part of Mofcovy from Vitoldus duke ^ 
 of Lithuania, won Smolenjko, and many 
 other cities, anno 15 14. 
 
 Juan Vajiliwich his fon, a child, fuc- 
 ceeded him ; but growing up, he ftripped 
 the Tartars of the kingdoms of Cazan 
 and AJtracan, and took the princes cap- 
 tive. He made vigorous wars in Livonia, 
 pretending a right to that country by in- 
 heritance, and did many other admirable 
 things ; but inclining much to opprefs his 
 nobles, they confpired and called in the 
 Crim Tartars, who committed great out- 
 rages, befieged and burnt the city of Mof- 
 cow, and in it about 80000 people pe- 
 riftiM, moftly by the flames. 
 
 Pheodor his fecond fon fucceed'ng, he 
 was, being a minor, left under the tuition 
 of Boris, brother to the emprefs and here, 
 once for all, it will not be amifs to give a 
 brief account of the ceremony in crowning 
 this great czar. 
 
 Forty days mourning for his father ex- Manner 
 pired, he came from his palace, attended by of coro- 
 his clergy and nobility, to the church of Bla-- nation. 
 vefhin, or Bleffednefs ; and hearing fervice 
 there, proceeded to the church of St. Mi- 
 chael; then to that of our Lady, being the 
 cathedral. There he was placed in a chair 
 of ftate, his robe of goldfmiths work (all 
 gold) fet with precious ftones and pearl. 
 The imperial crown was then placed on 
 his head by the metropolitan, who in do- 
 ing it read exhortations to him of juftice 
 and peaceable government. Then rifing, 
 he was invefted with another robe, much 
 richer than the former ; his train being 
 borne by fix dukes : the ftafF he held was 
 of a unicorn's horn, three foot and a half 
 long, curiouQy poltflied, and fet with pre- 
 cious ftones : a globe and fix crowns were 
 carried before him by princes of the blood : 
 his horfe waited at the church-door, co- 
 ver'd with an embroidery of pearl, and 
 the faddle fuitable, to the vakie of 3000 
 rubles. There was a kind of bridge made 
 three ways, 1 50 fathom in length, three 
 
 foot 
 
z<;o 
 
 A Description MoscovY. 
 
 foot iligh, and two fathom broad, where- 
 on the czar with his train paffed from one 
 church to another above the vaft throng 
 of people. The churches were fpread with 
 cloth of gold, and the porches with red 
 velvet •, the bridges with fcarlet and flan- 
 nel cloth, which the people got among 
 them when the czar had paffed j and a 
 great many new coins of gold and filver 
 were thrown among them from the church. 
 The ceremony ended, he returned to the 
 pai-liament-houfe, where a fbately banquet 
 after the Rufs manner was ferved up by 
 noblemen in plate of gold and filver, two 
 ftanding on either fide his chair with battle^ 
 ■axes of gold. This triumph lafted a week, 
 -with many ftiews and paftimes ; after 
 which, eledion was made of the nobles to 
 ^new offices and dignities-, and all con- 
 cluded with a peal of 1 70 brafs ordnance, 
 ■^nd 20000 harquibuffes twice difcharged, 
 •as he paffed with a train of about 50000 
 to his palace. 
 
 This czar conquered the large country 
 of Siberia^ and took the king prifoner ; 
 over-awing the Tartars, and doing many 
 other great matters : ^nx. Boris his guardian 
 afpiring to the throne by treachery, firft 
 -made away Demetrius., the czar*s brother, 
 ^nd then the czar himfelf, and ufurped the 
 royal feat. But a counterfeit Demetrius^ 
 iet up by the Poles, invading Mofcovy, and 
 every-where prevailing, Boris (as it is 
 thought) poifoned himfelf ; for after a full 
 meal he died fuddenly in his palace : and 
 his wife drinking poifon, made her fon 
 and daughter pledge her of which fhe 
 and the former died, but the latter only 
 lightly fipping recovered. 
 
 Demetrius Evonowich hereupon was pro- 
 claimed and crowned, and kept about him 
 ■Polijh guards for his fecurity, but had a 
 jhort and troublefome reign for being 
 fufpedVed as an impoftor,the Mofcovites con- 
 fpired againfb him, rulhed into his palace 
 before break of day, dragged him out of 
 his bed, and flew him, with many of his 
 guards and favourites. 
 
 To him fuccceded Vafdy Evanowich Shu- 
 fiy, who had been greatly inflrrumental in 
 his deflruilion, and had not long before 
 been at the block for reporting to have 
 feen the true Demetrius buried j but he was 
 recalled by him he depofed, and advanced 
 to be the inftrument of his ruin.. It is 
 reported, the impoflior's true name was 
 Gryfcha, the fon of a mean gentleman. 
 Nor did the new czar long hold the throne, 
 for the Poles raifed up another Demetrius, 
 who befieged him in the caftle of Mofcow, 
 and wrought him great troubles ; fo that 
 being hardly prefs'd, he betook himfelf to 
 a moiiafbery, and the Polijh army became 
 mafters of the city j who having got the 
 
 fpoil, quarrelled with their upfl:art 'Deme- 
 trius, and he flying for flielter, was flain 
 by a Tartar*?, fliuflc, who was carried into 
 Poland, and there died miferably in prifon. 
 Yet the Poles were foon after fl;arved, and 
 driven out of all the places they had gar- 
 rifon'd in Mofcovy ; and much confufion 
 happened in this inter-regnum, till at 
 length, taking advice to fettle matters, 
 Michalowich, or Michael Pheodorowich, was 
 chofen czar ; a youth whom Shujky much 
 feared, and had put feveral of the name 
 to death, upon a prefage that one of that 
 name fhould fucceed him who having 
 been raifed by the valour of Pozarjky and 
 Boris Licin, he made them generals of 
 his forces, and joined with them another 
 great commander of the Cojfacks^ who had 
 very much affifted him, and raifed to ho- 
 nour many other of his friends ; fo that 
 foon after a peace was concluded between 
 the Mofcovites and Poles, partly by the 
 mediation of king James I. England. He 
 was eledled anno 1615-, and managed his 
 dominions in a more confliant way of peace 
 with the Turks, Tartars, Polanders, and 
 Swedes, than any of his predeceffors had 
 done before him. 
 
 Feodor Alexiomitz, or Alexis, fucceeded 
 him ; who did many brave adlions, 
 fecured his borders againfl: invaders, and 
 reigned to the year 1682 who then dying, 
 left two fons behind him, John and Petery 
 who were joint czars of Mofcovy, till the 
 firfl: dying, the whole government devolved 
 on the latter, who now * reigns fuccefsfully * Anno 
 and vidlorioufly , having enlarged his ter- 1 696. 
 ritories by the taking o^Jfoph, and giving 
 the. Turks and Tartars many overthrows. 
 
 The great feal of Mofcovy is an eagle The czar'« 
 difplayed fable in a field. Or, bearing on 
 its breafl: a fliield, the field being gules, 
 charged with a St. George argent ; between 
 the heads of the .eagle are three crowns 
 placed over one another, which are faid to 
 fignify Mofcovy and the two kingdoms of 
 Cazan and Ajiracan. 
 
 The nobility of Mofcovy zxt of different Degrees 
 ranks, thofe of fhe ancient nobihty, and°/"°^'' 
 fuch as have been raifed by favour or other- 
 wife for their noble atchievements, viz. of 
 four forts : The chief, for birth, authority 
 and revenue, are called Udelney Knazey, that 
 is, the exempt or privileged dukes ; the 
 fecond, the Bojarens, raifed to honour by 
 the czar, befide their nobility, with the 
 title of counfellors : the third are the Voya- 
 vodey, fuch as have been generals of armies 
 under their prince : the fourth are fuch as 
 bear the name of knazey, or dukes, but 
 come of the younger brothers of the chief 
 houfes through many defcentS/ And thus 
 I hope I have given a fatisfadory account 
 of this famous country. 
 
 Sir