Asta

Hist. Brit. (2) 5. 89. A city of Liguria on the River Tanarus, now called Asti. A str a can. P. L. 10. 432; 492; (5) 8. 512, 518. 8. Moscovia (1) 8. 471, 475 (twice); (4) A city on the River Volga not far from the Caspian Sea. Milton refers in a note to the following description by Jenkinson: “Pa ing by an old castle, which was Old A str a can, and leaving it upon our right hand, we arrived at New A str a can, which this Emperour of Ru ia conquered sixe yeeres past, in the yeere 1552. It is from Mosco unto A str a can sixe hundred leagues, or thereabout. The towne of A str a can is situated in an Island upon a hill side, having a castle within the same, walled about with earth and timber, neither faire nor strong. The towne is also walled about with earth, the buildings and houses, except it be the captaines lodging, and certaine other gentle mens, most base and simple. The Hand is most destitute and barren of wood and pasture, and the ground will beare no corne. The aire is there most infected, by reason, as I suppose, of much fish, specially Sturgion, by which onely the inhabitants live, having great scarsitie of flesh and bread. They hang up thier fish in their streets and houses to dry for their provision, which causes such abundance of flies to increase there, as the like was never scene in any land, to their great plague. And at my being at the sayd A str a can, there was a great famine and plague This A str a can is the furthest hold that among the people. this Emperour of Ru ia hath conquered of the Tartars towards the Caspian Sea, which he keepeth very strong, sending thither every yere provision of men, and victuals, and timber to build the castle. This foresaid Island of A str a can is in length twelve leagues, and in bredth three, and lieth East and West in the latitude of fortie seven degrees, nine minutes.” (Hak. 1. The following pa age is probably one of the sources of 326.) P. L. 10. 431-3: “In this towne of A str a can they were somwhat hindered of their journey, and staied the space of sixe weekes by reason of a great army of 70,000 Turkes and Tartars which came thither upon the instigation of the great Turke, hoping either to have surprised it suddenly or by continuance of siege to win the same. But in the end by reason that the winter approached, as also because they had received newes of a great expedition which the Emperour of Ru ia was in providing for the defence of the said place, they were constrained to raise their siege, and (Hak. 1. 395.) As Milton to leave the town as they found it.” and...... by his reference to “Snowie Plaines,” the winters at For example we read in Purchas: ’.’The nineteenth of November the winde being northerly, there was a the great frost and much Ice in the River. The next day Ice stood in the River, and so continued untill Easter day.” suggests A str a can are severe.... (Pilgrimes 3. 244.) Athelney (Edelingsey). Hist. Brit. (5) 5. 205, 206; MS. 2. 114. A hiding-place of King Alfred, in Somersets hire at the conflux of the Thone and the Parret. A er describes it thus: “This is: a place surrounded by impa able fens and waters on every hand, where no one can enter but by boats, or by a bridge laboriously constructed between two fortre es.” (Chap. 92.) See Athens. 52