Geography anatomiz'd, or, The compleat geographical grammar being a short and exact analysis of the whole body of modern geography after a new and curious method / collected from the best authors and illustrated with divers maps by Pat. Gordon ...

§. 2. MOSCOVIA.

THIS Country (containing much of Sarmatia Europaea, and part of Sarmatia Asiatica, being also * 1.1 nam'd Russia from the Ancient People of that Country, call'd Rossi or Russi) is term'd by the Italians, Moscouia; by the Spaniards, Moscovia; by the French, Moscovie or Russie Blanche; by the Germans, Moscau; and by the English, Moscovia or Moscovy; so call'd from its chief Province of that Name, whose Denomina∣tion is deriv'd from Moschi or Mosci, an Ancient People first inhabi∣ting that Part of the Country.

The Air of this Country is very Cold, particularly towards the North, where Snow and Ice are usual for * 1.2 three Quarters of the Year; but in the Southmost Provinces they have very scorching Heats in the Summer for the Space of six Weeks. The opposite Place of the Globe to Moscovia, is that part of the vast Pacifick Ocean, between 220 and 290 De∣grees of Longitude, with 45 and 71 Degrees of South Latitude.

The Soil of this Country (it lying in the 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, &c. Northern Climate) is very diffe∣rent, * 1.3 according to the different Situation of its Parts. Here are many Plains, but generally full of Marishes. To∣wards the North are vast Forests; and even where the Ground is clear'd of Wood 'tis (for the most part) very Barren, and so ex∣tremely Cold, that what they sow doth seldom come to due Per∣fection. In the Southwest parts towards Poland, the Soil is tolerably good, the Ground there producing several sorts of Grain in great abundance; and 'tis reported by many, that their Corn is ready for reaping about two Months after it is sown. The longest Day in the Northmost Part of this Country is above two Months, the Sun not setting for that time when near the Summer Sol∣stice; the shortest in the Southmost is about 9 Hours ¼, and the Nights proportionably.

The Chief Commodities of this Country, are Furs, Sables, Martins, Wax, Honey, Tallow, Train-Oyl, * 1.4 Caviere, Hemp, Flax, Slad, Iron, &c.

As one of the Chief Rarities of this Country, we may reckon that strange sort of Melon, found in or * 1.5 near to Astracan, Casan and Samara. Some of the Na∣tives term it Boranetz, (i. e. The Little Lamb) others Zoophyton, which signifies the Animal Plant. The first Title would seem most proper, because in Figure it resembles a Lamb, and such is its vegetable Heat, that (according to the vulgar manner of expression) it Consumes and Eats up all the Grass, or other Herbs, within its reach. As the Fruit doth ripen, the Stalk decays, and is covered with a downy Substance, which being carefully taken off and dress'd, is us'd by some instead of Furs for Lining of Vests. To this we may add that Church in Moscow, call'd Hierusalem, which seem'd to John Basilides 1. (then Czar) such a stately Pile of Build∣ing, that he caus'd put out the Eyes of the Architect, that he might never contrive, (at least) behold its fellow.

Ecclesiasticks in Moscovia are, One Patriach, Four Metropolitans, Seven Archbishops, and several Bishops.

The Patriarch is he of Moscow, residing in the same City.

Metropolitans are those of	Novogorodskoi and Welikoluskoi.
Rostoufskoi and Harostauskoi.
Casanskoi and Sunatskoi.
Sarskoi and Pondoskoi.

Archbishopricks are those of	Wolodgskoi and Weliko Premskoi. * 1.6
Resanskoi and Moromskoi.
Susdalskoi and Turruskoi.
Twerskoi and Cassinskoi.
Sibirskoi and Tobolskoi.
Astrachansckoi and Terskoi.
Pleskouskoi and Sborskoi.

As to the exact Number and Names of Bishopricks in this Country; the same is but uncertain at * 1.7 best.

Here we can hardly expect the Seats of the Muses where the Liberal Arts and Sciences have been so long * 1.8 banisht, and the Studying of them inhibited by Pub∣lick Authority.

The Moscovites (Men of a vigorous and healthful Constitution) are generally reckon'd a rude, deceitful * 1.9 and ignorant sort of People; much addicted to excessive Drinking, as also unlawful and beastly Pleasures. And so fond of Ignorance have they hitherto been, that 'twas lookt upon as (almost) a piacular Crime for any of them to apply himself to a search after Knowledge. But things are now mightily alter'd in this Point, and that by the Encouragement of his present Czarish Majesty, who gives leave to his Nobility to acquire the Liberal Arts and Sciences, particularly the Mathematicks; and to acquaint themselves with Foreign Countries and Languages. And that the Learned Languages (Greek and Latin) may be no longer strangers in this Country, he hath already erected Publick Schools in Moscow for the teaching of them. By which means it is to be hop'd, That the Brutish Temper and Stupidity of this People, may be much reform'd in some time. And whereas the present Emperor hath already visited some of the best Nations of Europe. purposely to improve himself in Warlike Affairs, both by Sea and Land, (especially the former) and since this Undertaking is so uncommon, that the Mascovitish Story can't afford a Parallel; 'tis also to be hop'd, that the Effects thereof will be equally astonishing, and that in humbling (if not crushing) both Turks and Tertars his disturbing Neighbours, and professed Ene∣mies to the Cross of Christ.

The Language us'd in this Country, is a Dialect of the Sclavonian, but so corrupted and blended with * 1.10 other Languages, that 'tis hardly understood by those who speak the pure Sclavonian, which nevertheless is still us'd by the Russians in their Divine Service. Pater Noster (which I find only in a corrupt Dialect of their Tongue) runs thus, Aisameidhen joke oleah tainahissa; Pyhetta olkon siun wakakuta; si olkohon siun tharosi kwin•• tainahissa ayn man palla. Meidhen jokopai wen leipa anna m••h••llen tanapaiw••na, ja anna meidem syndia: Kwin moe annama meidin vostachan rickoillen; ja âle sata meita kin sauxen mutta pa∣asta 〈◊〉〈◊〉 paasta.

This great Body is under its own Prince, who as∣sumeth the Title of Cear, (which in the Russian Lan∣guage * 1.11 signifies Emperor) yet more commonly he's term'd the Great Duke. He's an Hereditary Monarch, and his Go∣vernment truly Desuotical. The Lives and Fortunes of his Sub∣jects are wholly at his disposal; and the greatest Knez: or Lord within his Dominions, doth acknowledge himself his Galop or Slave. Yea, be not only exerciseth an uncontroulable Power over

his slavish Subjects, but also pretends to a kind of Omniscience among them, and hath so succeeded in this bold Pretence, that the main Body of the People doth really believe that their Great Duke know∣eth all things. To support which Opinion, The Moscovitish Em∣perors have industriously endeavour'd to keep their People in gross Ignorance, and for that end have hitherto banish'd out of their Domions the Liberal Arts and Sciences, and forbid the studying of them under the severest Penalties. But the present Czar by his proceedings (already hinted at) would seem to rectify that gross Abuse. He suffers none of his Nobles to retire from Court with∣out his Special Permission, and seldom, or never, to visit Foreign Countries, till these our own Days; no, nor so much as to talk with Foreigners at home. The Publick Affairs are chiefly manag'd by his Great Council, (call'd Dumnoy Boyaren) consisting of the Principal Noblemen of the Empire. Here also are divers other Councils, or rather Chambers and Courts of Judicatory, to which belong their respective Business, and each of these hath its peculiar President; they're in number Six, whereof the first is appointed for Ambassadors and Foreign Negotiations. The second for managing of Military Affairs. The third for the Publick Revenues of the Empire. The fourth for encouraging of Trade and Merchandizing. And the two others for hearing and determining of all Causes, both Civil and Criminal.

The Arms of Moscovia are, Or an Eagle display'd Sable, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 on its Breast a Shield Gules, charg'd with * 1.12 a Cavalier A••••••t fighting a Dragon; on and between the Heads of the Eagle are three Crowns for Moscovy, Cazan, and Astracan. According to others, the Arms are Sable, a Portel open of two Leaves, and ••s 〈◊〉〈◊〉 degrees Or.

The Muscovia's 〈◊〉〈◊〉 that they profess Christianity, according to the Doctrine of the Greek Church in its * 1.13 Ancient Purity; but indeed they have mixt with the same, a great 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ridiculous Ceremonies and foolish Superstitions of their own. They ••ender Divine Worship to the Virgin Mary, and other Saints as also to Crosses, and never Commerce any thing of Moment unless they first Sign themselves with the Sign of the Crost. In Baptism they use Exorcism, and always Confession to the Priest before they receive the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper. All above seven Years of Age receive that Sacrament in both kinds, and they give it i•• one kind to Children under that age. They usually Administer the same (as also Extreme Unction) to Persons past all hopes of Recovery; but they neither adore the Sacrament.

nor believe the strange Doctrine of Transubstantiation. They ob∣serve fifteen great Festivals, besides a great many Days dedicated to particular Saints. Sermons they never use, but only read some Portions of Holy Scripture, with St. Basil's Liturgy, and divers Homilies of St. Chrysostome. The Christian Faith was first planted in this Country towards the latter Part of the Tenth Century, and that by the Preaching of some Greeks, sent thither by the then Patriarch of Constantinople.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Name.
• * 1.2

  Air.
• * 1.3

  Soil.
• * 1.4

  Commodities.
• * 1.5

  Rarities.
• * 1.6

  Archbishopricks.
• * 1.7

  Bishopricks.
• * 1.8

  Universities.
• * 1.9

  Manners.
• * 1.10

  Language.
• * 1.11

  Government.
• * 1.12

  Arms.
• * 1.13

  Religion.