‘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’ [‎362] (437/470)

[362]
Ajiraehan. It is now 3 years fince the firft rifing of the In which time they
have depopulated many fair Towns upon the C/ifpian Sea, and about a year agon
had taken in laick^ a City belonging to the Czary where they had befidesmany
Infolencies committed killed and difpatched abov 8000 Men by cruel and unheard-
of Torments, amongft whom was one Officier, ofknown fame for his good
Conduct.
IN Perfta they had taken in and demolif hed 3 Citys, and moft barbaroufly maf-
facred the Inhabitants, and growing both in number and power v/erebecom very
formidable, both to the King of Perfa and the Great Duke. They were headed by
one Stenko (or Stephen) Radzin, a difcontented Perfon and one of great Power,
as to his proper Abilities, bearing a Soreraign Aw among them. About 14days
before our Arrival at ylfirachan , he had taken a coftly Perjian Boes, valued at
feveral Tuns of Gold, in which were Horfes andfeveralotherPrefentsfentfrom
the King of Perjta to the Great Duke o(Afofcovj.
ON the 17 as the JVaywod of was aboard our Ship came an Exprefs y
bringing news that Radzjn and the Cojacs had fubmitted themfelvs to the Great
Duke* upon which the Waywod gave order that we fhould fire our Guns, which
we did. The faid Letters further mentioned how that they had delivered the Horfes
belonging to the G reat Duke to the Ruffian General.
ON the 19 came 3 Copies into Aflrachan in very coftly Attire and with great
pomp , whereof the youngeft was the Orator. The Wajwood after a long Treaty
affured them of being eftablifhed in the Great Dukes Favour, But it fcemedthat
they had lorn difguft, becaufe they were not formally introduced j as is cuftomary
with all A mbaffadors and Legates. The fVaywodzxcufedit, faying "Thathehim-
"felf was a Bo\ar y and refided there in quality of Waywod > yet at his firft taking
^that Dignity upon him was not introduded by his Predeceflor, nor the Nobility
<e of Aflrachan , which was Argument and Token that he was not to do the like to
others. When the Conference was over, the invited them to his Houfc
and gave them afplendid Treat.
ON the ir early in the Morning came the Fleet before the Town confi-
fting of 53 Stroegs, or Rowing-Barks; upon each Stroeg was only one Piece of
Ordnance, but thofe in the Rere had 2 , to wit, one before and another abaft
Aboard each were fo many Strelitzers (which aretheSoldieryj that they could not
mov if there had bin occafion, to do any execution. The faid Fleet by order of the
Waywod came to Anchor on the other fide of the River, About 3 in the Afternoon
came the Cofacs, confiding in 23 Sail andaconfiderablenumber ofMen. Upon their
Arrival we had an order from the TVajwodtoreccW 200 aboard under
our Standard, who placed themfelvs in order round about the Ship. The Rujfian
Army then loofed and came before the City, giving the Salvo with all their gi'eat
Guns at once, with abov 3000 Mufquets: which the Cofacs anfwered with their
Cannons and Mufquets;. upon which they in the City put out a white Flag, which
was a Token for us to Fire, which we did with all our great Gwns, and about 200
Mufquets. Mean while the Mafter of our Ship fell over board, but was taken up
again , tho with much ado, for the weather was a little tempeftuous* Soon after