Mosco

(twice), 512, 515, 516. Moscow, the former capital of Ru ia, in western Ru ia on the River Moskva. Jenkinson, whose excellent narratives Milton used in Moscovia, first took the latitude of Moscow. Mercat or writes in introduction to his new map: “The true observation of the latitude of the city of Mosco, made by the foresaid English men, hath yeelded me an infallible rule, for the correcting of the situation of the inland countries: which notable helps being ministered unto me, I thought it my dutie to exhibite to the world this Mappe, more exact and perfect than hitherto it hath bene published.” (Hak. 1. 513.) Richard Chancellor writes as follows: “The Mosco it selfe is great: I take the whole towne to bee greater than London with the suburbs: but it is very rude, and standeth without all order. Their houses are all of timber very dangerous for fire. There is a faire Castle, the walles whereof are of bricke, and very high: they say they are eighteene foote thicke, but I doe not beleeve it, it doth not so see me, notwithstanding I doe not certainly know it; for no stranger may come The one side is ditched, and on the other side to vie we it. runneth a river called Moscua, which runneth into Tartaric and so into the sea called Mare Caspium: and on the North side there is a base towne, the which hath also a brick wall about it, and so it joyneth with the Castle wall. The Emperour lieth in the castle, wherein are nine fayre Churches, and therein are religious men. Also there is a Metro pol i tane with divers Bishops. I will not stand in description of their buildings nor of the strength thereof because we have better in all points in England. be well furnished with ordinance of all sortes. They The Emperours or Dukes house neither in building nor in the outward shew, nor yet within the house is so sumptuous as I have scene. It is very lowe built in eight square, much like the olde building of England, with small windowes, and so in other poynts.” (Hak. 1. 238.) Jenkinson’s description, which Milton combines with the preceding, and to which he refers in a note, is as follows: “The citie of Mosco is great, the houses for the most part of wood, and some of stone, with windowes of yron, which serve for summer time. There are many faire Churches of stone, but more of wood, which are made hot in the winter time. The Emperors lodging is in a faire and large castle, walled foure square of bricke, high and thicke, situated upon a hill, 2 mifes about, and the river on the Southwest side of it, and it hath 16 gates in the walles, and as many bulwarks. His palace is separated from the rest of the Castle by a long wall going north and south, to the river side. In his palace are Churches, some of stone and some of wood, with round towers fairly gilded. In the Church doores and within the Churches are images of gold. The chief markets for all things are within the sayd Castle, and for sundry things sundry markets, and every science by its selfe. And in the winter there is a great market without the Castle, upon the river being frozen.” (Hak. 1. 313.) Milton’s mention of the unpaved streets and the latticed windows of the palace is from Hak. 1. 248-9. Hakluyt gives a large plan of the city. (1.484.) In a marginal note (Moscovia (4) 8. 492) Milton refers to “Horsey’s Observations” as the source of his reference to the burning of Moscow,... The pa age in question is as “Hee [Juan] countenanced the Rascal i tie and the most in the time of”Juan Vasiliwich.” follows: desperate Souldiers against the chiefe Nobility.... the Nobilitie he put to shame full deaths and tortures. Crim Tartar his ancient Enemy invaded him, incited. The by his. Upon Ascent i on day, the Enemy the high steeple of Saint Johns Church, at which instant Nobilitie as he found out. fires Many of.... happened a tempestuous wind, whereby all the Churches, Houses, Monasteries, and Palaces within the City and Suburbs thirty miles compa e, built most of Firre and Oke were set on fire and consumed in sixe houres space with infinite you sands of Men, Women, and Children burnt and smothered to death by the fierie aire; few escaping, without and within the three walled The River and Ditches about Musco were stopped and Castles. filled with multitudes of people laden with Gold, Silver, Jewels, Earings, Chaines, Bracelets, Rings and other Treasure, which went for succour to save their heads above water. All which notwithstanding, so many you sands were there burnt and drowned, that the River could not with all meanes and industry that could bee used, bee in two yeeres after cleansed; those which were left alive, and many from other places being daily occupied within great circuits to search and dragge for Jewels, I myself was somewhat the Plate, bags of Gold and Silver. better for that fishing. The streets the City, of Churches, Sellers and Vaults lay so thicke and full of dead carka es as no man could pa e for the noysome smels long after.” {Pilgrimage, ed. 1626, p. 975.) See Ru ia. Moscovia. Moscovia (1) 8. 475 (twice). 213