‘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’ [‎368] (443/470)

[368]
pair of Breeches and i (liirts, that being the Cuftom of the Ruffians upon extraor--
dinary Occafions [forfootb] He alfo made me many fair promiies, befides thcfrce-
dom of his Houfe and Table for my Good fervice, having about i©o Men under
my Condudl: nor did I appear too remifsinmy duty, fori went the Rounds every
night ofter than my Order and Injunftion was.
THEThurfday following, being the 19^ we had Intelligence how that the
Forces were greatly increafed a|id that they were a Marching towards us; which news
continued and was confirmed by a continual recourfeofLand-T^r^rj andFiihers
into Aftrachan; There was alfo a falfe rumor fpread about the Town, as if our
Men that were fled had loaden the Cannon that lay upon the ^X^alls with loole Pow
der, others that it was with Balls and no Powder, and a third, that it was firft with
Balis and then with Powder, all which coming to the Governours Earhcfentfoi:
mc, but coming to worm the Guns in his prefencc found it was but a falle and ma
licious report raifed by fome prejudiced Perfons to caftan upon them and to
turn me out of Favour,
ON Friday the 20th. of fme , the IVaywod made mc Lieutenant Coll. in place
of fames Won dram, which by provilion I took upon mc , butbeingnot well pleaf-
fd with my Charge, the ColL who obfervedit, fecmM a little dikontented, and
faid in prefenceofthe Governour, That it was not now a fit time to folicit in for (uch
things , Xvhence I collefled that he thought that I had made it my bufinefs to be advan
ced f but was foon after better informed, when he would himfelf hare confirmed
me in the Regiment and I with great carneftncfs declined it. The Poi> which was
affigned me was in the fame Quarter with the Col 1 , on the Tartarian (idc, where
xhe Fort was the weakeft.
ON Sunday, fune 22 came the Cofacks mtWm fight o( Aflrachan> and fenta
Cofac Trumpetter with a Ruffian Prieft to demand the Town. The laid Cofac had
alfo a Letter for me in Dutch, whereinl was advifed not to fight with my Men , if I
hoped for Quarter, or Mercy at their hands. The faid Letter was taken from me
by the Waywod, before I had read it quite out, and torn ia Pieces. The Trum
petter and Prieft had Gaggs put in their Mouths, that they fhould caufeno com
motion or alteration among the Commons; aad were foon after beheaded.
ON Munday came the Cofac-hxmy with about 300 Keels, great and fmall
'dole to the City, pining in at aRiver near the Vineyards that ly about halfa League
from the Walls oftheTown. Upon this We fct the Tents on fire. Mean
while I ftood upon the top of the Govcrnours houfe, with the Governourhim-
ielf, and cafually efpied feveral Boats in the River before the Town: I tnereforc
advifed the Governour not t^ let them tarry tnere for altho they were butFiihers
Boats yet they might give intelligence to the Enemy ; whercrore he gave order imme-
? diatlv to fink them, which was forthwith put in execution i Hat afternoon the Perfiarts
and Cir cm -Jar tars had taken 4 Cofacl^s, who were put to the Rack and a tcrcon
feffion, two were hanged up, and other two beheaded in prefence of the Governour.
T HE day following the Collonel would have confirmed me in tne Office I ti.tn
fupplied, to wit, a? Lieutenant Colonel which I neverthelefs declined as be ore.
This ■fame day aboutnoon the Great Dukes FlSorprelentcd us with a Pipeoritrong
; Beer,