‘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’ [‎369] (444/470)

[369] ^
Beer, and a Quantity ©f Tobacco , which we diftributcd among the Soldiers
givc^em Courage and keep them content. In the forepart of the night I went with
the Chirurgeon to do the Rounds, which don I lay me down to flecp a little in my
Tent but was quickly awaked with the Alarm, which gave notice how that the Ce?*
picks approached to begin their firft ftorm , which happened about 3 a clock at
the JVofnaftftfke Gate , where our Ship-nufter and the IVajwods Brother had the
watch. The firft I efpied was a fquarc Body of the Enemy who approached very
near, upon which I gave fire with our 12 Pounders, and was feconded by tbofc
of the next Poft, who fhot very faft. Interim came the Englifh Colonel Baily to
me in great haft with moftofthe Butch and German Officers, bringing news now
that the City was already betrayed. The Colonel was himfelf wounded on the cheek
with a Pike, as alio in two or three places on his Leg, for being all in Armour they
could not hurt him elfewhere: and this he faid was done by our own Soldiery. He
told me further that he had done his utmoft indeavour to pacify them and ifit were
poffible to caft an odium upon the Cofacks, as Rebells; but was fain to fmother
all his reafon fore againft his will and at laft glad to come offwith his Life. After a
fmall conference together I advifed the Colonel to go again to his Poft, and fee
if the perfwafion of other Officers had wrought any thing upon xh^Strelitz^ers: but
the next news I heard was that the Strelitz.ers had maffacred all the Officers, which
grieved me moft highly , becaufe that they had adventured their perfons by my
advice. Neither did this bloody Adion hold up with that, for it came forward(o
far that Captain iVederos who had the next Poft tomewastakenbyhisownfervant,
pinion'd faft and afterward in moft cruel manner murthered by his Soldiers. The
Chirurgeon of whom I have already made mention feeing this, would have thrown
himfelf off the wall to avoid the danger of thofe bloody Traitors; but I did all I
could to with-hold him, and at laft called to mind a certain Port-hole juftunder
the Tower which might ferve us for an Exitus out of all thofe imminent dangers, in
which we had certainly fuffered if we had not taken care betimes. Thro this we took
our way and I charged the Chirurgeon with his Servant (being a Pole) to follow
me, as alfo two of our Ships-Folk, to wit, fames Trappen , and Chrifiian Brandt.
Coming below we found there two Ruffes ftood Sentinel, whom! charged to
let us through* Thele not knowing any thing of the Tumult let us thro without
much difficulty or Interrogations. The Chirurgeon went out before, and I follow
ed, but knew not what became then of the two Seamen and the Pole. We were
forced to wade thro the Ditch to the neck, aiming at the Tartarian Field Quar
ters, which, as I have faid, was burnd up that it might not be an advantage to the
Enemy, which place we held for the moft fafe and iecure They fhot at us mainly
from the Walls, but all to little purpofe for we were got pretty far without Cannon
reach, at left for fingle Bodies ; But marching a little forward we met two men,
whom we fuppofed to be Cofacks , the Chirurgeon having a Firelock refolved to
difcharge as he alfo did , and fo far furprifed he was that he grew defperate and
throwing himfelf into the River fell a fwimming. "When I came up with them I
f underftood that they were alfo fled for fear of being maflacred by the Commonalty;
upon which I called out to the Chirurgeon that they were honeftMen and under
A a a the