‘The perillous and most unhappy voyages of John Struys, through Italy, Greece, Lifeland, Moscovia, Tartary, Media, Persia, East-India, Japan, and other places in Europe, Africa and Asia. Containing, I. Most accurate remarks and observations of the distinct qualities, religion, politie, customs, laws and properties of the inhabitants: II. A due description of the several cities, towns, forts and places of trust, as to their site and strength, fortifications by nature, or art, &c. with other things worthy of note: and III. An exact memorial of the most disastrous calamities which befell the author in those parts (viz) by ship-wrack, robberies, slavery, hunger, tortures, with other incommodities and hardships’ [‎129] (178/470)

Idi — — — —
C hap. III. The Voyages of lohn Struys.
I ' "—' ;—*
% On the 19 of lamary we brought our Baggage aboard a fmall Ship,
i\, that lay about 3 Miles without Mofcou. At this Place was the Court 1669 *
of the Emperours Sifter, being a fair Palace , but of Wood , built
Kifetoo| t after a quaint and artificial manner. Here was alfo the Emperours
itbu-is Bear-Garden , being accidentally when we were there a great Con-
no tor. courfe of Gentry, from Mofcou , and other places to fee the Paftime,
1 and the Evening before, came the Emperour with the whole Court
'altliickl an ^ ^-etinue.The Theatre was only environed with Stakes and Pales,
15c toL that the People might alfo fee, that were without. Before they began
iDin, were brought out about 200 Wolves and Bears, and almoft twice the
' f number of Dogs • all which were drawn in their Kennels fet upon
tr Sledges. The Emperour , and the prime of his Nobles fate in a
t U? Gallery made on purpofe in a very convenient place, to fee on every
c J1 fide. So foon as the Emperour was fet, a fign was given, upon which a
litle Wolf and an old Bear were turned out loofe together , that
luj'jii aft;^ they had encountered about half a quarter of an Hour , were
rwjftii p ar t e d 3 which notwithftanding their being in the heat of the Fight,
:kw£i£| W ere eafily brought afunder and led to their Kennel. The Wolves
iCtfelf toCt W ere afterwards engaged with Dogs of which many lay dead upon the
kt is- place, and others fo wounded that they were no more fit for ufe.
On the 2 3 of February, one of our company married with a
[■Kt maid, who had been taken Captive when flie was a Child and brought
it, and# up in the Chriftian Religion , by the Heer who taught
jOTftcis her to write and fpeak Nether dutch , both which fhe did expertly well.
And a day or two after was another of our Company married with a
,, ..j Ijdi Lubekker Jooth. thefe two went with their Hufbands to i ^ijlrachdn.
On the 13 of March died the Emprefs in Child-bed who by reafon
foroiA 0 f her great Charity , Piety , and the beft of Vertues , was much
lamented by the Common People , who oftentimes in diftrefs< were '
, 1 I k J accuftomed to addrefs themfelves to her , as a Mediatrix. The next
0 df day llie was interred with great Pomp and magnificency , for it is
1 l£ ' not their Cuftome as in other Countreys to embalm the Corps , or to
let it lie in State. On each fide the way flood the Guards, but none fol- rheVme.
low'd or went before > except fome of the chief Perfonages about ri1 '
tlD ' er i 1. Court who walked a foft pace. The Herfe was cowered with a rich
icnti^ Canopy of cloth of Gold, having Taffels and Fringe fuitable, bom
us ^ up by 8 young Lords. After the Herfe followd a Train of Noble-men,
R led