A LARGE DESCRIPTION OF RUSSIA a.d. 



1558. 



when she goeth to church at Christmas or at Easter, or 

 els going to visite some of her friends. 



The most part of the women use to ride a stride 

 in saddles with styrrops, as men do, and some of them 

 on sleds, which in summer is not commendable. 



The husband is bound to finde the wife colours to The women of 

 paint her withall, for they use ordinarily to paynt Russia paint 

 themselves : it is such a common practise among them, thetr f aces% 

 that it is counted for no shame : they grease their 

 faces with such colours, that a man may discerne them 

 hanging on their faces almost a flight shoote off : I 

 cannot so well liken them as to a millers wife, for they 

 looke as though they were beaten about the face with 

 a bagge of meale, but their eye browes they colour as 

 blacke as jeat. 



The best propertie that the women have, is that 

 they can sowe well, and imbroder with silke and golde 

 excellently. 



Of their buriall. 



WHen any man or woman dieth, they stretch him 

 out, and put a new paire of shooes on his feete, 

 because he hath a great journey to goe : then doe 

 they winde him in a sheet, as we doe, but they forget 

 not to put a testimonie in his right hand, which the 

 priest giveth him, to testifle unto S. Nicholas that he 

 died a Christian man or woman. And they put the 

 coarse alwayes in a coffin of wood, although the partie 

 be very poore : and when they goe towards the Church, 

 the friends and kinsemen of the partie departed carrie 

 in their hands small waxe candles, and they weepe and 

 howle, and make much lamentation. 



They that be hanged or beheaded, or such like, 

 have no testimonie with them : how they are received 

 into heaven, it is a wonder, without their pasport. 



There are a great number of poore people among 

 them which die daily for lacke of sustenance, which is 

 a pitifull case to beholde : for there hath beene buried 



447 



