The chiefe Cities of Russia.
THE chiefe cities of Russia are Mosco, Novogrod,
Rostove, Volodomer, Plesko, Smolensko, Jaruslave,
Perislave, Nisnovogrod, Vologda, Ustiug, Colmogro,
Cazan, Astracan, Cargapolia, Columna. The city of
Mosco is supposed to be of great antiquitie, though the
first founder be unknowen to the Russe
. It seemeth to
have taken the name from the river that runneth on the
one side of the towne. Berosus the Chaldean in his 5.
booke telleth that Nimrod (whom other prophane stories
cal Saturne) sent Assyrius, Medus, Moscus, & Magog
into Asia to plant colonies there, and that Moscus planted
both in Asia and Europe. Which may make some probabilitie, that the citie, or rather the river whereon it is
built, tooke the denomination from this Moscus : the rather
because of the climate or situation, which is in the very
farthest part & list of Europe, bordering upon Asia. The
Citie was much enlarged by one Ivan or John, sonne to
Daniel, that first changed his title of duke into King:
though that honor continued not to his posterity: the
rather because he was invested into it by the Popes
Legate, who at that time was Innocentius the 4. about
the yeere 1246. which was very much misliked by the
Russe
people, being then a part of the Easterne or Greeke
Church. Since that time the name of this city hath
growen more famous, & better knowen to the world:
insomuch that not only the province, but the whole
Countrey of Russia is termed by some by the name of
Moscovia the Metropolite city. The forme of this City
is in maner round with 3. strong wals, circuling the one
within the other, & streets lying betwene, whereof the
inmost wall, and the buildings closed within it (lying
safest as the heart within the body, fenced and watred
with the river Moscua, that runneth close by it) is all
accompted the Emperors castle. The number of houses
(as I have heard) through the whole Citie (being reckoned
by the Emperor a litle before it was fired by the Crim)
was 41500. in all. Since the Tartar besieged and fired
the towne (which was in the yere 1571.) there lieth waste
of it a great breadth of ground, which before was wel
set and planted with buildings, specially that part on
the South side of Moscua, built not long before by Basilius
the Emperor for his garison of souldiers, to whom he
gave priviledge to drinke Mead, and beere at the dry
or prohibited times, when other Russes may drinke
nothing but water, and for that cause called this new
city by the name of Naloi, that is skinck or poure in.
So that now the
city of Mosco is not much bigger then
the
city of London. The next in greatnes, & in a maner
as large, is the citie Novograd: where was committed
(as the Russe
saith) the memorable warre so much spoke
of in stories of the Scythians servants, that tooke armes
against their masters: which they report in this sort:
viz. That the Boiarens or gentlemen of Novograd & the
territory about (which only are souldiers after the discipline of those countreis) had war with the Tartars.
Which being wel performed & ended by them, they
returned homewards. Where they understood by the
way that their Cholopey or bondslaves whom they left
at home, had in their absence possessed their townes,
lands, houses, wives and all. At which newes being
somewhat amased, and yet disdeining the villany of their
servants, they made the more speed home: and so not
far from Novograd met them in warlike maner marching
against them. Whereupon advising what was best to
be done, they agreed all to set upon them with no other
shew of weapon but with their horse whips (which as
their maner is every man rideth withal) to put them in
remembrance of their servile condition, thereby to terrifie
them, & abate their courage. And so marching on &
lashing al together with their whips in their hands they
gave the onset. Which seemed so terrible in the eares
of their villaines, and stroke such a sense into them of
the smart of the whip which they had felt before, that
they fled altogether like sheepe before the drivers. In
memory of this victory the Novogradians ever since have
stamped their coine (which they cal a dingoe Novogrodskoy currant through al Russia
) with the figure of
a horsman shaking a whip aloft in his hand. These 2.
cities exceed ye rest in greatnes. For strength their
chiefe townes are Vobsko, Smolensko, Cazan & Astracan,
as lying upon the borders. But for situation Jaruslave
far exceedeth the rest. For besides the commodities that
the soile yeeldeth of pasture and corne, it lieth upon
the famous river of Volgha, & looketh over it from a
high banke very faire & stately to behold: whereof the
towne taketh the name. For Jaraslave in that tongue
signifieth as much as a faire or famous banke. In this
towne (as may be ghessed by the name) dwelt the Russe
king Vladimer sirnamed Jaruslave, that maried the
daughter of Harald king of England, by mediation of
Sveno the Dane
, as is noted in the Danish story about
the yere 1067.
The other townes have nothing yt is greatly memorable,
save many ruines within their wals. The streets of
their cities and townes in stead of paving are planked
with fir trees, plained & layd even close the one to the
other. Their houses are of wood without any lime or
stone, built very close and warme with firre trees plained
and piled one upon another. They are fastened together
with dents or notches at every corner, & so clasped fast
together. Betwixt the trees or timber they thrust in
mosse (whereof they gather plenty in their woods) to
keep out the aire. Every house hath a paire of staires
that lead up into the chambers out of the yard or streat
after the Scottish maner. This building seemeth far
better for their countrey, then that of stone or bricke;
as being colder & more dampish then their wooden houses,
specially of firre, that is a dry & warme wood. Wherof
the providence of God hath given them such store, as
that you may build a faire house for 20. or 30. rubbles
or litle more, where wood is most scant. The greatest
inconvenience of their wodden building is the aptnesse
for firing, which happeneth very oft & in very fearful
sort, by reason of the drinesse and fatnes of the fir, that
being once fired, burneth like a torch, & is hardly
quenched til all be burnt up.