ANTHONY JENKINSON a.d. 



1558. 

 left on our right hand, distant from Vasiliagorod 16. 

 leagues. The countrey heereabout is called Mordovits, 

 and the habitants did professe the law of the Gentiles : 

 but nowe beeing conquered by this Emperour of Russia, 

 most of them are christened, but lie in the woods and 

 wildernesse, without towne or habitation. 



The 27. day we passed by another castle called 

 Swyasko, distant from Shabowshare aforesaid 25. leagues: 

 we left it on our right hand, and the 29. came unto 

 an Island one league from the citie of Cazan, from Cazan. 

 which falleth downe a river called Cazanka reca, & 

 entreth into the foresaide Volga. Cazan is a faire 

 town after the Russe or Tartar fashion, with a strong 

 castle, situated upon a high hill, and was walled round 

 about with timber & earth, but now the Emperour of 

 Russia hath given order to plucke downe the old walles, 

 and to builde them againe of free stone. It hath bene 

 a citie of great wealth and riches, and being in the 

 hands of the Tartars it was a kingdome of it selfe, 

 and did more vexe the Russes in their warres, then 

 any other nation : but 9. yeres past, this Emperour of 

 Russia conquered it, and tooke the king captive, who 

 being but young is nowe baptised, and brought up 

 in his court with two other princes, which were also 

 kings of the said Cazan, and being ech of them in 

 time of their raignes in danger of their subjects through 

 civil discord, came and rendred themselves at several 

 times unto the said Emperor, so that at this present 

 there are three princes in the court of Russia, which 

 had bene Emperours of the said Cazan, whom the 

 Emperour useth with great honour. 



We remained at Cazan till the 13. day of June, and 

 then departed from thence : and the same day passed [I. 325.] 

 by an Island called the Island of merchants, because it was The Island of 

 woont to be a place where all merchants, as well Russes m ^ rc ^ nts - 

 and Cazanites, as Nagayans and Crimmes, and divers 

 other nations did resort to keepe mart for buying and 

 selling, but nowe it is forsaken, and standeth without 



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