Historia mundi: or Mercator's atlas Containing his cosmographicall description of the fabricke and figure of the world. Lately rectified in divers places, as also beautified and enlarged with new mappes and tables; by the studious industry of Iudocus Hondy. Englished by W. S. generosus, & Coll. Regin. Oxoniæ.

RUSSIA, OR MOSCOVIA. (Book Russia)

* 1.1RUSSIA which is called also Roxolonia, is twofold, the Blacke and the White: The former bordereth on Polonia, the latter is a part of Moscovia. Moscovie was without doubt so called from the River Moschus or Morava▪ which giveth its name also to the chiefe Citie Mosco through which it floweth.* 1.2 The Territories thereof are extended farre and wide, and it is bounded on the North with the Icie Sea, on the East it hath the Tartarians, on the south the Turkes and Polonians, and on the West the Livonians and the Kingdome of Swethland. In all which spaces of ground many large countries are contained, and therefore the Duke of Moscovie doth thus enstile himselfe.* 1.3 The Great Lord, and by the grace of God Emperour and Governour of all Russia, also Great Duke of Volodi∣miria. Moscovia, great Novogrodia, Pskovia, Smolonskia, Thweria, Iugaria, Permia,* 1.4 Viathkia, Bulgaria, &c. Governour and Great Prince of Novogrodia the Lesse, of Czernigovia, Rezania, Wolochdia, Resovia, Bielloia, Rostovia, Ia∣roslania, Poloskia, Biellozeria, Vdoria, Obdoria, and Condimia, &c. The tempe∣rature of the Aire in Muscovia is immoderately cold and sharpe,* 1.5 yet it is so wholsome, that beyond the head of Tanais toward the North and East, there is never any plague knowne, although they have a disease not much unlike unto it, which doth so lye in the head and inward parts, that they die in few daies of it. The Countrie in generall neither bringeth forth Vine nor Olive, nor any fruit-bearing tree except it be Mellons and Cherries, in regard that the more tender fruits are blasted with the cold North windes.* 1.6 The corne fields do beare Wheat, Millet, a graine which the Latines call Panicum, and all kinde of Pulse. But their most certaine harvest consists in waxe and honey. Here is the wood Hercynia being full of wild beasts. In that part which lyeth toward Prussia great and fierce Bugles or Buffes are found, which they call Bison. And also the beast called by the Latines Alces like an Hart save that hee hath a fleshie snout like an Elephant, long legges, and no bending of the hough, and this creature the Moscovites call Iozzi,* 1.7 and the Germans Hellene. Besides, there are Beares of an incredible bignesse, and great and terrible Wolves of a blacke colour. No Countrie hath better hunting and hawking than this. For they take all kinde of wild beasts with Dogges and Nets, and with Haukes which the Countrie of Pecerra doth plentifully yeeld, they kill not onely Pheasants, and Ducks with them but also Swannes and Cranes. The Countries of Russia or Moscovia are very large. All the Cities, Townes, Castles, Villages, Woods, fields, Lakes, and Ri∣vers are under the command and government of one Prince,* 1.8 whom

[illustration] map of Russia

RVSSIA, OR MVSCOVIA.

Russia cum Confinijs

the Inhabitants do call the great Czar, that is King or Emperour, and all the revenues that arise from them, are brought into the Princes exche∣quer. There are no Dukes or Counts, which can possesse any thing by a Tenure of Freehold, or can passe the same unto their heires. Hee doth bestow some villages and Townes upon some, but yet hee useth the la∣bour of the husbandman, and when he list taketh them away againe. So that hee hath absolute command over his Subjects, and againe his Sub∣jects honour and reverence him as a God, and do shew obedience to him in all things, without any refusall. The chiefe Metropolis or mother Ci∣tie of the whole Kingdome is Moscovia commonly called Moschwa, be∣ing conveniently situated, as it is thought, in the middle of the Countrie. It is a famous Citie as for the many Rivers which meete there,* 1.9 so for the largenesse, and number of the houses, and for the strength of the Castle. For it lyeth neere the River Moschus with a long row of houses. The houses are all of wood, and divided into Parlers, Kitchings, and Bed-chambers: all of them have private gardens both for profit, and for pleasure. The severall parts of the Citie have severall Churches. It hath two Castles one called Kataigorod, the other Bolsigorod, both which are washed with the Rivers Moschus, and Neglinna. Moreover in Russia there are many Countries, as first, the Dukedome of Volodimiria, which title the Great Duke doth assume to himselfe, it is named fom the chiefe citie Volodomire being seated on the bankes of the River Desma, which runneth into Volga. This Province is of so fruitfull a soile, that the in∣crease of one bushell of wheat being sowne is oftentimes twentie bu∣shells. Secondly, Novogrodia which though it be inferiour unto the a∣forenamed Countrie in pasturage, yet not in the fruitfulnes of the soile. It hath a woodden citie, called by the same name with the whole Duke∣dome Novogrod, being seated where the Rivers Volga and Occa do flow one into another. This citie had alwaies the chiefe preheminence in re∣gard of the incredible number of houses, for the commoditie of a broad and fishie Lake, and in regard of an ancient Temple much reverenced by that Nation, which about five hundred yeares agoe was dedicated to S.* 1.10 Sophia. Here is a memorable Castle built of stone upon a rocke at the great Charge of the Duke Basilius. This Citie is distant from the Citie Moscovia an hundred Polish miles, and from Riga, the next haven towne, it is little lesse than five hundred. Thirdly Rhezan which is a Province be∣tweene the River Occa and Tanais, having store of Corne, Honey, Fish, and Fowle: it hath these Cities built of wood, Rhezan seated on the banke of Occa, Corsira, Colluga, and Tulla, neare to which are the Spring-heads of the River Tanais. Fourthly the Dukedome of Worotinia, which hath a Citie and a Castle of the same name. Fifthly, Severia which is a great Dukedome abounding with all things, it hath great desart fields, and many Towns among which the chiefe are these, Starodub, Stewiark∣ser, and Czernigow. The bees in the woods do yeeld them great store of honey. The Nation in regard of their continuall warres with the Tarta∣rians is accustowed to armes, and ready of hands. Sixthly, the Duke∣dome of Smolen••••o, which being seated neare the River Borysthenes hath a Citie of the same name, watered on the one side with Borysthenes, and on the other side environed with deepe ditches, and rampiers armed

[illustration] map of Russia (partial)

A MORE PARTICVLAR DESCRIPTION OF SOME PROVINCES OF MOSCOVIA.

MOSCO∣VIA.

with sharpe stakes. There are also these Dukedomes and Provinces, Mo∣sat••kia, B••elskia, Rescovia, Tweria, Pleskovia, Vodzka, Correllia, Biele••zioro, Wo∣lochda, Vstiuga, Iaros••avia, Rostow, Dwina, Susdali, Wrathka, Permia, Sibior, Iugra, Petzora, and Novogrodia the Greater, which they call Novogrod Wi••lki in which is a very great Citie of the same name, bigger than Rome it selfe. Petzora taketh its name from the River which the moun∣taines and rockes do hemme in on both sides. There are spacious countries which pay Tribute to the great Duke lying northward in a great space of Land; as Obdora, in which is the Idoll called Zolota Baba, that 〈…〉〈…〉 Golden old woman, also Condora, Lucomoria, and Lappia. There are many great Lakes in Moscovia,* 1.11 as Ilmen or Ilmer, also Ladoga, and the White Lake which the Inhabitants call Biele••ezioro. There are also many lane Rivers,* 1.12 as first Bor••sthenes or Pripetus, commonly called Nioper and Nest••r, o•• by the addition of a letter Dnieper & q 1.13 Dnester. Secondly, Tu∣••••••t•••• which is that same with Ptolemie, which Herbersterntus calleth Ru∣bo, but the Inhabitants Duina and Oby. Thirdly, the River Rha, which Ptolemie mentions, and is now called Volga and Edel. There is in this coun∣trie the River * 1.14 Ianais, which the Italians call Tana, the Inhabitants Don. Beside, the river Occa and the lesser Duina, called likewise Onega, &c. Here are the Moates Hyperboret or Riphaean mountaines, mentioned by Pliny in his 4 Booke Chap. 12. and by Mela in his 3 Booke, which are impassable,* 1.15 because they are cover'd over with continuall snow and ice. The wood Hercyma which Isidorus calleth the Riphaean wood, taketh up a great part of Moscovia, it is inhabited, having some few scattering hou∣ses in it, & now by long labour is made so thinne that it cannot, as most suppose, shew such thick woods, & impenetrable forrests as heretofore. Moscovia hath innumerable costly Temples or Churches, and very many Monasteries. The Duke lookes to matters of government, and administration of Justice by the helpe and assistance of twelve Counsel¦lors who are daily present in the Court.* 1.16 Among them, the Pre••ec••u••e ships of all the Castles and Cities are distributed: and they receive the letters and Petitions which are directed to the Prince, and do answer them in his name. For the Prince himselfe receiveth no letters, neither doth hee set his hand to any that are written to his Subjects, or any for∣raine Prince. The Bishops are chosen out of the Friars as men of a san∣ctimonious and holy life: There are many Monasteries of these Friars in the Kingdome of Moscovia, and yet all of the same habit and Order, of which they say that S. Basil was the first founder. There are in the whole Kingdome of Moscovia eleven Bishops which they call Wladdicks, that is, in their language Stewards or Dispensers. They call their Priests Poppes or A••••hipoppes.* 1.17 The Metropolitan Bishop liveth in Moscovia, who was here∣tofore confirmed by the Patriarch of Constantinople, but now being cho∣sen by the great Duke onely, he is consecrated by two or three Bishops, and is displaced at the Kings pleasure. Under this Metropolitan are two Archbishops, the one at N••vogarais the Greater neare the River Low••a, the other at Rodovia. There are no Universities or Colledges in all the Empire of M••••••otia. The Moscovi••es are of the Greek religion, which they received in the yeare of our Lord 987. They suppose that the Holy Spi∣rit, being the third person in the Trinitie, doth proceed from the Father

alone. They tooke the Sacrament of the Eucharist with leavened bread, and permit the people to use the Cuppe. They beleeve not that Priests Dirges, or the pietie or godlinesse of kindred or friends can be avaleable to the dead, and they beleeve that there is no Purgatorie. They read the Scripture in their owne language, and do not deny the people the use thereof. They have Saint Ambrose, Augustine, Hierome, and Gregorie translated into the Illyrian tongue, and out of these, as also out of Chryso∣stome, Basil and Nazianzenus, the Priests do publikely read Homilies in∣stead of Sermons; for they hold it not convenient (as Iovius saith) to ad∣mit of those hooded Orators, who are wont to Preach too curiously & subtlely to the people concerning divine matters, because they thinke that the rude mindes of the ignorant may sooner attaine to holinesse and sanctitie of life by plaine Doctrine, than by deepe interpretations and disputations of things secret. They make matrimoniall contracts, and do permit Bigamie, but they scarcely suppose it to be lawfull mar∣riage. They do not call it adulterie, unlesse one take and keepe another mans wife. They are a craftie and deceitfull Nation,* 1.18 and delighting more in servitude than libertie. For all do professe themselves to be the Dukes servants. The Moscovite line rather prodigally than bountifully, for their tables are furnished with all kinde of luxurious meats that can be desired, and yet not costly. For they sell a Cocke and a Duck often∣times for one little single piece of silver. Their more delicate provision is gotten by hunting and hawking as with us.* 1.19 They have no wine made in the Countrie, and therefore they drinke that which is brought thi∣ther, and that onely at Feasts and Bankets. They have also a kinde of Beere, which they coole in Summer by casting in pieces of ice. And some delight in the juice prest out of sowre cherries, which hath as cleare and pure a colour, and as pleasant a tast as any wine. The Mosco∣vites do send into all parts of Europe excellent Hempe and Flaxe for rope-making, many Oxe-hides, and great store of Waxe.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The names
• * 1.2

  The 〈◊〉〈◊〉
• * 1.3

  M••s••••••i••
• * 1.4

  The Situation.
• * 1.5

  The tempera∣ture of the Aire.
• * 1.6

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 of the Soyle.
• * 1.7

  The varietie of living crea∣tures.
• * 1.8

  The Govern∣ment▪
• * 1.9

  The Cities.
• * 1.10

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 to this 〈…〉〈…〉 was 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the 〈…〉〈…〉 betweene 〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.11

  〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.12

  〈…〉〈…〉
• q 1.13

  〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.14

  〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.15

  〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.16

  〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.17

  〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.18

  Then Diet.
• * 1.19

  Then Traf∣fique.