A New Description of the World, Section 1 · Account of region 11
A Description of Russia, comprehending the Dukedom of Muscovy.
THIS large Tract of Land is bounded on the West with Livonia and Finland; on the East with Tartary; on the North by the Frozen Ocean, and part of Lapland; on the South with Lithuania, …rim Taytary, and the Euxine Sea; and is accounted in its greatest length from East to West 3300 Miles, and in breadth 3065, being subject to the Czar of Muscovy, or great Duke, who notwithstanding stiles himself Emperor of Russia, or Russland, which is part in Europe, and part in Asia, divided by the River Tanais, the boundard of two parts of the World.
The chief City is Mosco, the Seat of the great Duke, and the Patriarch, and of most of the Nobility, being very large, though not stately; there are besides this of note, Roscovia, and Novograd, Archepiscopal Sees, Vologda, Smolensko, and Plescovia, held to be the only walled Town in Muscovy, Vstium, Mosayce, St. Nicholas, Sugana, Gragapolis, and the chief Maritime Port is Arch-Angel, seated in the proper Russia, whither our Merchants Trade, and the Russia Company have a Factory, the Country yielding store of Furrs, as Sables, White Fox, Martins, Black Fox, Honey, Wax, Cattle, Tallow, Red Deer-skins, Hides, Hemp, Flax, Tar, Brimstone, Salt Petre, Train Oyl, Tongues, and the like; and the Soil towards the Southern Parts is exceeding Fruitful, producing abundance of Corn, and rich Pastures, with Fruits of various Kinds, watered by the River Volga, that passes from thence through a part of Tartary; but to the Extream North, which lies in upward of 76 Degrees, the Weather is so Cold, that little but Rocks, Woods, Mountains, and Ice are found there, containing a Vicissitude of Light and Darkness; for the Day, if we have a respect to the Twy-light, lasts six Months, and a great part of the other six they see not the Sun, but have the Country covered with Snows and during Frosts, the Sea being never free from Rocks and Mountains of Ice, over great Arms of which the Inhabitants pass with Wagons, Sleads, and other Carriages: Nor are there found any Inhabitants in those desolate Parts during the Winter Season, but in that little Summer they have, the Shepherds and Fishermen, set up Hutts or Tents, though in the Woods on this Coast, are the tallest Trees in Europe.
The Inhabitants of this Country are Thick, not tall, but rather square, habiting themselves in Furrs, course Cloth, and Feeding to excess, given greatly to Drinking, though it be strictly forbid, and are generally False and Perfidious, nor regarding their Words, but studying to Over-reach, or Cozen all they can, insomuch that being in other Countries, they strive to dissemble their own, the better to be Credited: The Women are tolerably handsome, well Limbed and Proportioned, and have a strange Custom amongst them, not to think their Husbands either Love or Regard them, unless they once or twice a day Cudgel their Sides. Their Religion in most things agrees with that of the Greek Church, not making any acknowledgment to the Pope, or See of Rome, but have a Patriarch of their own, to whom all their Ecclesiasticks submit: And as for the Government it is absolute, the Czar, who is by the People in extraordinary Esteem and Veneration, having in his Hands the Power of Life and Death, disposing at his Pleasure both of the Body and Goods of his Subjects, and is seldom out of War with the Tartars, a Roving People that border upon the most Fruitful part of his Country; and though the Armies of the Muscovites are generally numerous, yet are they composed for the most part of stragling People, and seldom answer in valour the least that may be expected from them, as has not only in times past, but lately been manifest, and the reason is, because they go poor, and unfurnished into the Field.